Public water providers in the United States strive to safeguard our drinking water. Nevertheless, despite our perception of the purity of drinking water, it harbors contaminants that should not be present. In fact, millions of people in the U.S. are drinking tap water that fails to meet federal safety and health standards. Water filtration drastically reduces unwanted contaminants from your tap water.
Do You Know What's in Your Drinking Water
Is My Water Safe to Drink?
What Common Contaminants Are Found in Drinking Water?
Common drinking water contaminants include lead, chlorine, disinfection byproducts, PFAS “forever chemicals”, pesticides, fertilizer runoff (nitrates/nitrites), pharmaceutical residues, and microbes like bacteria or viruses. These contaminants can enter water sources through aging pipes, agricultural runoff, industrial waste, or naturally occurring minerals.
What are Physical Contaminants in Water?
In addition to the list above, organic material is common in our water supply --such as sediment and sulfates. These may not be harmful, but they do affect the taste and smell of water, making it less desirable to drink. A Reverse Osmosis water drinking water system can improve the taste, odor and appearance of your water, and also remove or reduce dozens of other contaminants including PFOS, lead, fluoride, Arsenic V, nitrate, perchlorate, pesticides, and more.
PureValue 5EZ50 Reverse Osmosis System 5-Stage 50 GPD
This undersink 5-stage reverse osmosis filtration system uses two carbon blocks versus one for increased reduction of organics, odors and other chemicals. After filtering through the first 4 stages, water passes through the GAC post filter for a final polish that enhances taste.
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How to Check for Toxins in Water
If you are on a private well, you can send off for a water analysis from a certified water testing laboratory. You can also have your water tested by a local water treatment specialists.
One free resource is the EPA's Consumer Confidence Report or EWG's tap water pollutant database. This report is available each year from all public water suppliers. Each supplier is required to provide a consumer confidence report to customers.
Drinking Water Contaminants Regulated by the EPA
There are more than 60,000 chemicals and contaminants found in our water supply in the United States. But of the 60,000 contaminants, only 90 contaminants are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA sets allowable legal limits for those 90 contaminants. They also stipulate methods municipal water suppliers must follow to properly treat those contaminants in water.
Every five years the EPA reviews the list of unregulated drinking water contaminants to decide if any commonly-found contaminants should be added to the list of regulated drinking water contaminants.
Because thousands of contaminants are NOT regulated in our drinking water, an increasing number of Americans are concerned about the overall quality of their water supply.
In fact, a Water Quality Association (WQA) study of consumers' opinions and perceptions about their water quality looked at Americans’ attitudes and concerns about their water. The study determined that "Most Americans are somewhat knowledgeable about what contaminants might be found in their water supply," and many households are looking for ways to improve their drinking water.
Viqua VH410-F20 UV Water Treatment System
The Viqua VH410-F20 is the ideal UV water filter system for treating well water, harvested rainwater and other UV water disinfection applications. The powerful 18-GPM system is preassembled with a 5-micron sediment filter to signifcantly reduce dirt, rust and sediment. The helpful lamp countdown timer reminds you when your UV lamp is due for replacement.
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Viqua VH200-F12 UV Water Treatment System
The VIQUA VH200-F12 provides reliable whole-home UV treatment at up to 9 GPM, combining a high-output UV lamp with sediment and carbon prefilters for cleaner, better-tasting water. It inactivates common waterborne pathogens and uses a durable stainless-steel chamber with a built-in Safety-Loc for safe, simple maintenance. With only an annual lamp replacement needed, it’s an economical, long-lasting solution for both city and well water.
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Should You Worry About the Water Coming into Your Home?
Outdated Water Infrastructure
The EPA says that over $335 Billion is needed over the next decade for drinking water infrastructure in the U.S.
60,000 Chemicals in Use
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, out of the 60,000 chemicals used in the U.S, only 91 of them are regulated by the Safe Water Drinking Act.
99.99% Bacteria Killed by UV Light
UV water disinfection is a safe, chemical-free way to treat water. UV light can kill or inactivate 99.99% of harmful bacteria and viruses.
240,000 Water Main Breaks
An estimated 240,000 water main breaks happen in the U.S. each year, causing the loss of clean water to homes and "boil water advisories" issued.
FAQs
Is my Household Drinking Water Safe if I'm on City Water?
Most U.S. tap water meets federal standards, but “safe” can vary by location. Even legal levels of contaminants may still pose risks—especially PFOS, lead, fluoride, nitrates, and disinfection byproducts, which have health impacts at very low levels. Checking your local water report or using home filtration can help ensure safer drinking water.
Is My Drinking Water Safe if I'm on Private Well Water?
More than 19 million U.S. households are on private wells. If you get your water from a household well, you are responsible to monitor and routinely test the water. Studies show that at any given time, at least 40 percent of private wells are contaminated with E coli bacteria and other illness-causing microbes. Learn more about the UV water filtration for private well water.
How do contaminants get into my drinking water?
Contaminants enter drinking water through agricultural runoff, industrial pollution, naturally occurring minerals, stormwater, and old or corroded plumbing systems. Even treated municipal water can pick up contaminants as it travels through outdated infrastructure to your home.
How can I find out what’s in my drinking water?
You can check your local Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your city’s water utility, use online databases that track contamination by ZIP code, or test your home’s water directly—especially if you use a private well or live in a home with older pipes. Testing provides exact levels of contaminants like lead, PFAS, nitrates, and bacteria.
How can I make my drinking water safer at home?
Using a water filtration system is the most reliable way to reduce contaminants. Popular options include activated carbon filters (great for chlorine, chemicals, and bad taste), reverse osmosis (RO) (excellent for heavy metals, nitrates, PFAS, and salts), and UV treatment (for microbes). Combining filtration methods offers the highest level of protection.
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