WATER IS THE ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT OF LIFE...WE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT!
Over 300 pollutants in U.S. Tap Water
Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained from state water officials.
More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present in any amount. The federal government does have health guidelines for others, but 49 of these contaminants have been found in one place or another at levels above those guidelines, polluting the tap water for 53.6 million Americans. The government has not set a single new drinking water standard since 2001.
Want to know when to filter your tap water? And how?
We all know that drinking plenty of water is vital for health. Learn how to stay hydrated while avoiding common drinking water pollutants. Here's how to:
Environmental Working Group has compiled millions of state water testing records to create a National Drinking Water Database.Our database makes it easy for you to identify and understand the contaminants in your water -- and find the right filter.
Most water utilities meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's tap water regulations. So what are the problems with tap water?
Researchers at the University of California at Davis concluded that 254,000 people in the area, which includes Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern counties, “are currently at risk for nitrate contamination of their drinking water,” including 34,000 people who rely on private wells or local small water systems.
The UC/Davis study is being delivered today (March 13) to California legislators considering ways to “improve understanding of the causes of [nitrate] groundwater contamination, identify potential remediation solutions and funding sources to recover costs expended by the state…” The legislature voted in 2008 to have the water resources board commission the study.
Water that runs off fields treated with chemical fertilizers and manure is loaded with nitrogen and phosphorus, two potent pollutants that inevitably end up in rivers and lakes and set off a cascade of harmful consequences, contaminating the drinking water used by millions of Americans. Treating this water after the fact to clean up the contamination is increasingly expensive, difficult and, if current trends continue, ultimately unsustainable. The only solution that will preserve the clean, healthy and tasty drinking water that people expect is to tackle the problem at the source. (2012 EWG Study)
Reports of trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the water cycle have raised concerns amongst various stakeholders such as drinking-water regulators, governments, water suppliers and the public, over potential human health risks from exposure to very low levels of pharmaceuticals in drinking-water. (World Health Organization, 2011)
2. Find a filter that works
Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained from state water officials.
More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present in any amount. The federal government does have health guidelines for others, but 49 of these contaminants have been found in one place or another at levels above those guidelines, polluting the tap water for 53.6 million Americans. The government has not set a single new drinking water standard since 2001.
Want to know when to filter your tap water? And how?
We all know that drinking plenty of water is vital for health. Learn how to stay hydrated while avoiding common drinking water pollutants. Here's how to:
- Identify the contaminants in your home tap water
- Find a filter that works
- Skip bottled water
- Choose safer reusable water bottles
Environmental Working Group has compiled millions of state water testing records to create a National Drinking Water Database.Our database makes it easy for you to identify and understand the contaminants in your water -- and find the right filter.
Most water utilities meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's tap water regulations. So what are the problems with tap water?
- There are many unregulated contaminants -- like chromium-6 -- in American drinking water. We at EWG have identified 316 chemicals in U.S. tap water -- 202 of which aren't regulated. EPA's failure to protect drinking water sources from pollution and to develop enforceable standards for scores of common tap water contaminants leaves the public at risk. http://www.ewg.org/healthyhometips/filtertapwater
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2012
Researchers at the University of California at Davis concluded that 254,000 people in the area, which includes Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern counties, “are currently at risk for nitrate contamination of their drinking water,” including 34,000 people who rely on private wells or local small water systems.
The UC/Davis study is being delivered today (March 13) to California legislators considering ways to “improve understanding of the causes of [nitrate] groundwater contamination, identify potential remediation solutions and funding sources to recover costs expended by the state…” The legislature voted in 2008 to have the water resources board commission the study.
Water that runs off fields treated with chemical fertilizers and manure is loaded with nitrogen and phosphorus, two potent pollutants that inevitably end up in rivers and lakes and set off a cascade of harmful consequences, contaminating the drinking water used by millions of Americans. Treating this water after the fact to clean up the contamination is increasingly expensive, difficult and, if current trends continue, ultimately unsustainable. The only solution that will preserve the clean, healthy and tasty drinking water that people expect is to tackle the problem at the source. (2012 EWG Study)
Reports of trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the water cycle have raised concerns amongst various stakeholders such as drinking-water regulators, governments, water suppliers and the public, over potential human health risks from exposure to very low levels of pharmaceuticals in drinking-water. (World Health Organization, 2011)
2. Find a filter that works
- Once you know what contaminants you have in your tap water, find a filter.
- Identify which style best matches your household needs and budget. There are six kinds of filters: pitcher/large-dispenser, faucet mounted, faucet integrated, on-counter, under-sink, and whole house.
- Understand the technology. Although there are hundreds of brands of home water filters, all rely on a small number of technologies. Some common ones: carbon/activated carbon, deionization, ion exchange, mechanical filters, ozone, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet and water softeners. We explain how each works in our tap water report. Two of the most common technologies are:
- Carbon filters (pitcher, tap-mounted or large dispenser) are affordable and can reduce many common water contaminants, like lead and byproducts of treatment processes.
- Reverse osmosis filters remove contaminants that carbon filters can't eliminate, like arsenic and perchlorate (rocket fuel), but can be costly.
- Pick one that filters the contaminants prevalent in your tap water:
- Want a decent filter at a decent price? Get a carbon filter. (Pitchers, faucet mounts, and large dispensers are popular types. Effectiveness varies widely.)
- Want to remove as many contaminants as possible? Use reverse osmosis (RO) combined with a superior carbon filter. (Our guide helps you determine which brands offer minimally effective carbon filters and which are superior.)
- Interested in removing a specific contaminant? Search EWG's online guide to filters.
- Want extra protection? Some whole-house carbon filters remove contaminants from steamy vapors you and your family inhale while showering and washing dishes. Contact your local distributor to find a model that meets your needs.
- Change your water filters on time. Old filters aren't safe -- they harbor bacteria and let contaminants through.
- Skip bottled water
Despite marketing hype, bottled water is not necessarily any safer than tap water, and it can cost up to 1,900 times more! In fact, industry reports show that up to 44 percent of bottled water is just tap water -- filtered in some cases, but not necessarily in all cases. And because bottled water manufacturers aren't required to publish their water quality tests, you may not know exactly what you're getting.
Bottled water may be contaminated with plastic additives that migrate from the bottles.
Read our Bottled Water Label Scorecard for more information.
There are few times when bottled water makes sense: - If your tap water contains fluoride and you can't filter it out to mix infant formula. Be sure the bottled water is fluoride-free.
- If your employer provides on-site bottled water because workplace water isn't available or safe. Be aware that many of the large plastic bottles used to provide such water are #7 polycarbonate plastic, which can leach BPA.
- You're traveling in a country where drinking tap water might cause illness.
- The only other choice is sugar-laden soda.
- Choose safer reusable water bottles -- for that filtered tap water or choose a water filtration bottle to filter tap water anywhere!
- Carry stainless steel or other BPA-free bottles. Skip aluminum and hard plastic bottles. Aluminum bottles have an inner plastic lining that can contain BPA. Don't reuse single-use bottled water bottles. The plastic can harbor bacteria and break down to release plastics chemicals.
- You can also filter tap water or fresh water anywhere with a micron water filtration bottle, capable of filtering out bacteria and viruses. This water filtration bottle is ideal for any outdoor activity, traveling to other countries with unknown water quality and a critical component for emergency preparedness.
