Editor's note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published on August 8, 2017.
Many people think that drinking water straight from the tap is safe. Unfortunately, just because water is clear and tastes normal doesn’t mean it’s pure. In fact, a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that hundreds of contaminants are found in the average American tap, many of which are above the level that could pose a health risk but below the legal threshold for action.
The Safe Drinking Water Act was enacted in 1974 to supposedly keep Americans’ tap water safe, but no chemicals have been added to the list of chemicals regulated in drinking water since 1996. Neka Leyva, director of EWG’s Healthy Living Science Program, told USA Today:
“The list of regulated chemicals is not adequate for the uses our country puts in them… When it comes to drinking water, legal does not necessarily mean safe… What concerns us is long-term exposure, eight glasses of water a day over a lifetime.”One
Tap water can potentially contain hundreds of chemicals.
EWG analyzed data from U.S. agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on drinking water testing conducted from 2010 to 2015. The tests were conducted at about 50,000 water facilities in 50 states and tested for 500 different contaminants. A total of 267 were detected, including:2
- 93 is associated with increased cancer risk
- 78 Associated with brain and nervous system damage
- 63 is associated with developmental disorders in children or fetuses.
- 38 Can cause reproductive problems
- Associated with 45 hormonal disorders
EWG's analysis uncovered a number of alarming trends, such as the fact that nearly 19,000 public water systems had lead levels above 3.8 parts per billion, which means that formula-fed babies are at risk for elevated blood lead levels. Another chemical of concern is the industrial chemical chromium-6, which is not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act but is found in drinking water supplies in all 50 states at levels above those that could pose a cancer risk.
The industrial solvent 1,4-dioxane has also been found widely in the environment at levels that exceed the EPA says could pose a cancer risk, and nitrates from industrial agriculture have also been found at levels that could pose a cancer risk. According to the EWG:three
“Most of the nation's drinking water supplies pass federal and state regulatory standards. But many of the more than 250 contaminants detected in water sampling and testing are at levels that are perfectly legal under the Safe Drinking Water Act or state regulations, but far exceed levels that have been shown in authoritative scientific studies to pose health risks.
Moreover, the EPA has not added any new contaminants to the list of regulated drinking water contaminants in over 20 years. The federal government’s failure to fulfill its responsibility to protect public health is inexcusable, and it means there are no legal limits on the more than 160 unregulated contaminants that have been tested in tap water across the country.”
Industrial agriculture pollutes drinking water by promoting algae growth.
There are many ways in which industrial agriculture wreaks havoc on our drinking water. Environmental impacts already reported include increased nitrate contamination of drinking water as a result of fertilizer contamination. Park Rapids, Minnesota, spent $3 million to dig deeper wells because of nitrate contamination.
It is estimated that 10% of private drinking water wells in the area have nitrate levels that could pose a risk to pregnant women and infants.4 Meanwhile, in Iowa, the Des Moines water utility spent $900,000 on nitrate filtration in 2013 and $1.5 million in 2015.5 And it's suing three neighboring counties — Sac, Buena Vista and Calhoun — for polluting the river with fertilizer runoff.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that it costs about $5 billion a year to remove nitrates from U.S. drinking water.6 Industrial agriculture is largely protected. Phosphorus and nitrogen runoff from industrial agriculture not only directly pollutes drinking water, but also contributes to algal blooms that deplete oxygen in marine environments, resulting in catastrophic dead zones.
Increased algae levels in drinking water require water utilities to use more disinfectants, which in turn creates more toxic disinfection byproducts such as trihalomethanes (THMs). THMs are group B carcinogens that have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Changes in agricultural strategies needed to reduce agricultural water pollution
The immediate solution to protecting drinking water is to install water filters at your taps, but the broader solution is to stop the contamination at its source. Even small changes, such as using cover crops, can help prevent soil erosion while absorbing excess fertilizer.
Iowa has a voluntary program, the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, to help control fertilizer runoff, but despite starting four years ago, it is still in its early stages. Many have questioned whether the voluntary program is effective enough.
Iowa has long had problems with high nitrate levels in its drinking water, and has been identified as a major source of pollution (nitrate and phosphorus) that causes dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico. Fertilizer runoff has also been identified as a source of toxic algae that colonizes the Florida coastline. A report released by the Iowa Environmental Commission (IEC) attempted to summarize the health risks associated with these nitrates in drinking water.7
Researchers reviewed more than 100 studies on the health effects of nitrates in drinking water and found that several linked nitrates to birth defects, bladder cancer, and thyroid cancer.
Although many health problems have been found at nitrate levels above the drinking water standard of 10 mg/L, some studies have suggested that nitrate levels below the drinking water standard can still pose health risks. About 15% of private wells in Iowa may have nitrate levels that exceed the federal standard.8
From kitchen chemicals to pharmaceuticals – what else is in your drinking water?
Every time you take a sip of water, you may be ingesting a cocktail of mind-altering chemicals, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, that end up in the sewer (or flushed down the toilet after excretion) and in the waterways.
Most water treatment plants are not good at filtering out drugs. Researchers evaluating water in Washington State’s Puget Sound found 81 drugs and chemicals that were not removed by wastewater treatment.9
Depending on the method used, between less than 20% and more than 90% of the drug in the water is not removed during the treatment process.10 And that’s just the beginning. According to a Harvard study, 16.5 million Americans have detectable levels of at least one type of polyfluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkyl chemicals, or PFAS, in their drinking water.
PFAS are used to make nonstick, stain-resistant, and waterproof surfaces, such as nonstick cookware. About 6 million Americans are drinking water that contains PFAS above EPA safe levels.11
More than 18 million Americans receive their drinking water from water treatment plants that violate federal drinking water regulations regarding lead.12 And in nine out of 10 cases, the EPA took no enforcement action against violators. Surprisingly, many water utilities are actually using faulty testing methods that don’t detect high levels of lead, meaning that the number of Americans drinking lead-contaminated water is likely much higher than that.
An estimated 16 million people are believed to have detected perchlorate, a chemical used in explosives and rocket fuel, in their drinking water.13 Additionally, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has released a report stating that atrazine is widely contaminated with drinking water, posing a “dangerous problem” that is not reaching those most at risk.14
Atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide in U.S. waters and is known to cause reproductive harm to mammals, fish, and birds. Therefore, it is recommended that you filter your tap water with a filter that can remove this contaminant, both for drinking and bathing.
The extent of water contamination is still unknown, as the Safe Drinking Water Act regulates only 91 contaminants. Meanwhile, more than 80,000 chemicals are used in the United States.15 We don't really know how much or how much of these chemicals are entering our drinking water, and what the consequences are.
EWG Tap Water Database – What Contaminants Are in Your Water?
If you want to know what’s lurking in your water, you can get a local water analysis from your water company. It’s your right to see your local water quality report annually, which should highlight contaminants of concern (there may also be other contaminants that are legally “safe” but can pose long-term health risks). You can also use EWG’s tap water database to enter your zip code and see what’s actually in your tap water.
You will learn not only whether contaminants were detected above the health guidelines, but also what other contaminants were detected, their main sources, and what you need to do to filter them out. It only takes a moment, but the results are truly eye-opening. Don't assume your tap water is pure. It probably isn't.
Water filtration is an investment in your health
If your water tastes good and looks clean, it’s easy to assume it is. But finding out what’s really in your water and taking steps to address it is one of the most important health steps you can take.
Listen to Laura Sarcone, director of customer service and marketing for Des Moines Water Works. She watched the plant’s nitrate removal unit run for 177 days straight. The unit was built to run only a few days a year, and it was a sign of how much nitrate contamination is in the water in the area. She told Civil Eats:16
“Nationally, our industry believes that water is an undervalued resource. People are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for cell phone minutes and unlimited data, or cable TV, but rarely place the same value on clean drinking water.”
Unfortunately, it is best to assume that your water is not pure and use a high-quality water purification system (if you cannot verify the purity of your water). If you have well water, it is a good idea to test your water for nitrates and other contaminants. If you have a public water supply, you can obtain a local drinking water quality report from the EPA.
To ensure you are getting the purest water possible, filter your water both at the point of intake and at the point of use. This means filtering all the water coming into your home, then filtering it again in your kitchen sink and shower.
Unfiltered water can expose you to dangerous chlorine vapors and chloroform gas. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other U.S. government agencies report that most homes in the United States have measurable levels of chloroform gas due to chlorinated tap water. Unless you have a whole-house water filter, chlorine evaporates from every toilet in your home and every time you wash your clothes, dishes, or take a shower or bath.
Chloroform gas, chlorine vapors, and related DBPs can increase the risk of asthma, airway inflammation, and respiratory allergies. Chloroform gas alone can cause dizziness, nausea, and general fatigue.
If you have a municipal water supply and do not have a whole house filter, it is very important to open a window on the opposite side of the house to allow cross ventilation. Open the window for 5-10 minutes a day to remove these gases. Ideally, use a whole house filtration system.
One of the best products I’ve found so far is the Pure & Clear Whole House Water Filtration System, which uses a 3-stage filtration process (micron sediment pre-filter, KDF water filter, and advanced carbon water filter) to remove chlorine, disinfection byproducts (DBPs), and other contaminants. EWG also offers a handy water filter guide that lets you search by filter type, technology, and/or contaminants to help you decide which type of filter is best for your home.17
