Is the water that comes out of our taps clean and safe to drink?

by Maryella Begley-Gamon, PE | Nov 7, 2024

Drinking water comes from either surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc.) or groundwater aquifers. Surface water and groundwater are not isolated systems. Both systems are recharged by stormwater either absorbed into the ground and eventually reaching the aquifer, or by runoff that enters surface water through storm drain systems.

What do we know about stormwater? It is mostly untreated and the largest source of pollution to surface water.

So what is in the water we drink? According to the EPA, drinking water may contain a variety of contaminants. The EPA has established drinking water standards which include maximum contaminant levels for more than 90 chemical, radiological, and microbial contaminants, “Examples include microorganisms, (e.g., E. coli, Giardia, and noroviruses), inorganic chemicals (e.g., lead, arsenic, nitrates, and nitrites), organic chemicals (e.g., atrazine, glyphosate, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene), and disinfection byproducts (e.g., chloroform). “

According to a new study released by the University of New Mexico, there are 7 common contaminants that often find their way into drinking water from both wells and surface water sources. These contaminants are: arsenic, fracking fluids, lead, nitrates, chlorinated disinfection byproducts, manmade chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and uranium, most of which are known or suspected carcinogens. “The seven contaminants represent a small fraction of the thousands of the chemical agents present in drinking water, the authors report. And to complicate matters, two or more contaminants may be present in a water source, presenting the possibility of synergistic effects.”

The article that started me down this rabbit hole lists the 10 states with the worst tap water in the US. Which highlights an important point, no two drinking water systems are the same. Even private wells near each other can have different water makeup and water quality. It is important to do your own research. In Texas, water systems are required to send out a report every 2 years, like a water quality report card. I read it every time and compare it to the past reports (because I’m a nerd, and this is the kind of thing that interests me.) It is important to educate yourself. Also, if you don’t feel ok with what you find out, you can add additional filtration to your water at home.

Which brings me back to the article on the top 10 states with the worst tap water in the US, provided by a water filtration company, Aquaspace. Whether your state is listed or not, it is important to learn more about your local water system and not just look at generic information.

Georgia. This makes me super sad to see the state where I grew up listed first. “Chemicals like arsenic, chloroform, radium and bromate are higher than legal levels in many of the state’s rivers, streams and wells. The water quality is worse in metropolitan areas like Atlanta, but water pollution is a problem across the state. In 2019, 600 of Georgia’s public water systems failed to meet the EPA’s standards.”
Arizona. “Phoenix’s tap water has the highest average levels of chromium-6 (a known carcinogen) in the country. Additionally, nine drinking water systems in Arizona tested for the highest levels of the toxins perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the country.”
Florida. “mostly due to red tide microorganisms from the Gulf of Mexico and blue-green algae blooms in lakes and rivers. Those ecological disasters, paired with yearly hurricanes, land Florida on the dangerous tap water list.”
Michigan. “News broke in 2014 about the unsafe drinking water in Flint, MI. That year, the city switched from getting its water from Lake Huron to the Flint River as a way to save money. Unfortunately for Flint residents, the city’s aging lead pipes contaminated the water supply with high concentrations of lead and even Legionnaires’ [disease]. “
Ohio. “Sebring, OH suffered a Flint-like disaster in 2016 when unsafe lead levels were found in the village’s water system. Ohio is one of the most industrialized states, which has historically meant poor tap water conditions. Decades of runoff from factories and coal mines has resulted in unsafe levels of iron, sulfate and other minerals throughout the state. The problem is so widespread that 25% of residents—2.96 million Ohioans—were affected by contaminated drinking water in 2016.”
Washington. “Unsafe levels of carcinogens like arsenic, chloroform, chromium, nitrate, radon, radium, and uranium aren’t uncommon in some of the state’s rural communities. Washington’s poor water quality results from contaminated snowmelt coming from the Rocky Mountains. As water runs down from the mountains, it picks up contaminants like animal waste, pesticides, oil, microplastics and more.”
Texas. Also super sad to see the state I now call home on this list. “The Lone Star State…tops the charts when it comes to radiated drinking water. In addition to radiation, Texas’ water has unsafe levels of lead and arsenic due to old pipes and water systems. While it’s mostly the rural communities that have to deal with unsafe drinking water, over 12 million Texans drink contaminated water every day.”
California. “California is another state with tainted drinking water in rural farming communities. Nitrates in the fertilizer, along with arsenic and uranium in water systems, can cause cancer and developmental issues. However, city dwellers aren’t immune from the problem. Nearly 1,600 California public water systems violated the EPA’s standards in 2019.”
New Jersey. “The state’s manufacturing plants contaminate the drinking water with cancer-causing perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). PCFs and other pollution are becoming less common but the state’s water has recently had issues with high lead and chlorine levels.”
Pennsylvania. “six million Pennsylvanians supplied with contaminated drinking water. Pennsylvania’s water pollution stems from poorly maintained coal mines and over 200,000 abandoned gas and oil wells that leach contaminants into the groundwater, rivers and streams.”