Is Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Tap water in the United States is widely regarded as some of the world’s safest and most reliable. Public water systems regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide drinking water to nearly 90% of Americans. However, growing populations, aging infrastructure, extreme weather, and regulatory gaps place the country’s public water system at risk. In recent years, high-profile failures and concerns about contaminants have prompted many to ask the question, “Is drinking water from the faucet safe”. For some, that means installing water filters for peace of mind. 

Is Tap Water Healthy?

Drinking tap water in the US is generally safe due to strict EPA regulations. The EPA has established limits on more than 90 common contaminants found in drinking water to help ensure it is safe for consumption. However, it’s important to remember these limits allow for certain levels of contaminants to remain in water legally, including physical, chemical, biological, and radiological impurities. While the side effects of drinking tap water are usually positive, exposure to contaminated water, whether short-term or long-term, can lead to health issues ranging from mild discomfort to severe illness depending on the type and concentration of impurities present. 

Common Contaminants In City Tap Water

As mentioned, drinking water contaminants are broken down into four categories: 

• Physical contaminants affect the appearance and other physical characteristics of water, such as color, odor, and turbidity (murkiness). These impurities are usually not harmful but they do indicate other underlying water quality issues. 
• Chemical contaminants are either naturally occurring or man-made elements and compounds. The toxicity of these contaminants varies and some chemicals pose significant health risks at even low concentrations. 
• Biological contaminants refer to microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. These often cause gastrointestinal illnesses if water is not adequately treated. 
• Radiological contaminants are radioactive chemical elements like uranium, radium, or plutonium. Prolonged exposure to these impurities can potentially increase the risk of developing cancer. 

  While tap water undergoes treatment to reduce impurities, certain contaminants can still make their way into your water supply. These impurities can vary based on your local water source and infrastructure. Common contaminants include: 

• Lead is a highly toxic metal formerly used to make pipes for plumbing systems. While they are no longer manufactured, lead pipes already installed pose a hazard. Consuming lead in water can cause a variety of adverse health effects, including high blood pressure and damage to the brain, kidneys, and reproductive system. 
• Chlorine is a chemical added to water to combat microbial contamination. While not harmful in regulated doses, it can dry skin and hair. 
• Chloramines form in chlorine- and ammonia-treated water. When combined with naturally occurring minerals in water, chlorine and chloramine become disinfectant byproducts (DBPs). In high concentrations, DBPs may increase the risk of cancer. 
• Fluoride is a chemical added to water to help protect teeth from decay. High concentrations can cause dental fluorosis, a condition that leaves white lines, dots, or small dents on teeth. 
• Mercury is a liquid metal found in natural deposits and industrial discharge. Over time, high levels of exposure can result in kidney damage. 
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of gaseous chemicals that come from materials like gasoline, paints, paint strippers, and other similar products. The body can absorb these through water vapor, which can lead to kidney or central nervous system damage as well as cancer. 
• Herbicides and pesticides enter water systems from runoff or accumulation in soil and water. Long-term exposure may lead to issues such as hormone disruption, developmental problems, nervous system damage, or cancer. 
• Pharmaceuticals are chemicals found in prescription drugs. They often enter water supplies after incorrect disposal. Researchers haven’t identified any specific human health risks but recommend the continued removal of these small traces from water supplies. 
• Microorganisms like legionella bacteria, campylobacter bacteria, giardia parasites, norovirus, and pseudomonas bacteria threaten human health in untreated water. Between 2010 and 2022, these five microorganisms were the top five causes of outbreaks in city drinking water. Gastrointestinal illness is the most common side effect, though the severity can vary depending on age, health, and type of contamination. 

Is City Water Safe to Drink?

City water is generally safe to drink, but it’s not without challenges. Municipal water utilities use various treatment processes tailored to the quality of the source water entering their facilities. However, infrastructure delivering water to and from plants is aging rapidly. The country relies on 2.2 million miles of underground pipes, many of which were installed in the early- to mid-1900s. These pipes, which were designed to last between 75 and 100 years, have reached or exceeded their lifespan. Currently, the average pipe in the US is 45 years old. Significant investments in pipe replacement, treatment plants, and wastewater management are urgently needed to maintain safe drinking water. Extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, freezing temperatures, and floods add to the strain. Intense weather conditions can overwhelm treatment plants and pipe systems, which already receive a staggering C- grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers. The problem is so pervasive that roughly six billion gallons of treated water is wasted daily. Regulation violations are also an issue. In 2022, about 27% of public water systems infringed upon at least one drinking water standard. 

How to Know If Tap Water Is Safe to Drink

The best way to learn about your local drinking water quality is to check your municipality’s water quality report. City water suppliers must provide this information to customers, either with their water bill or separately. You can also visit your water provider’s website to find reports online. These documents tell you where your water is sourced from, what contaminants were found, and at what levels contaminants were measured. The report will also tell you whether or not measured contaminants exceed EPA standards.  It’s also a good idea to find out what materials your service pipes and other fixtures are made of. If your home was built before 1986, it’s very likely you have lead service pipes delivering water to your home. Homeowners with lead pipes should consider having these professionally removed or installing water filters rated to reduce lead levels.

Kind 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System

Water Filters for City Water

You should consider installing a water filter in your home if you are unhappy with the results found in your municipality’s water report or if you notice issues like an unusual taste, odd smell, or recurring digestive discomfort after drinking tap water. Having a water filter in your home adds an extra layer of protection by reducing contaminants that may still be present, such as sediment, chemicals, or microorganisms.  Kind Water Systems offers solutions designed specifically to treat city water. We recommend opting for a whole house water filter or a reverse osmosis system.  Our Whole House Water Filter With UV treats all water entering your home to ensure that every tap, shower, and appliance receives filtered water. This product includes three stages of filtration with a sediment, carbon, and UV filter. First, water passes through a sediment filter to capture larger particles like rust, sand, clay, and dirt that can affect water clarity and quality. Then, the carbon filter layer removes chlorine, chloramines, fluoride, VOCs, and other chemical contaminants. Finally, the UV system reduces biological contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa by disrupting microbial DNA.    Shop Kind Water’s Whole House Water Filter With UV   Our 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System provides homeowners with one of the most effective solutions for removing up to 99% of dissolved solids, organic compounds, chemicals, and microorganisms from water. If you have lead pipes, an RO system is suggested. This filter has pores as small as 0.0001 microns, making it capable of trapping some of the smallest contaminants found in water. However, RO systems are point-of-use filters, meaning they are installed on individual fixtures such as a bathroom or kitchen sink. These systems can be paired with whole house filters to further filter contaminants out of water in places like your kitchen, which is likely where you are sourcing most of your drinking water.    Shop Kind Water’s 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System