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The United States has one of the safest water supplies in
the world. However, national statistics don't tell you specifically
about the quality and safety of the water coming out of your tap.
That's because drinking water quality varies from place to place,
depending on the condition of the source water from which it is
drawn and the treatment it receives.
Now you have a new way to find information about your
drinking water, if it comes from a public water supplier.
(EPA doesn't regulate private wells, but does have
recommendations for their owners.)
Every community water supplier must provide an
annual report (sometimes called a consumer confidence report)
to its customers. The report provides information on your local
drinking water quality, including the water's source, the
contaminants found in the water, and how consumers can get
involved in protecting drinking water. If you have been looking
for specific information about your drinking water, this annual
report will provide you with the information you need to begin
your investigation.
These annual reports will by necessity be short documents.
You may want more information, or have more questions. One
place you can go is to your water supplier, who is best equipped
to answer questions about your specific water supply. This
page will help you find other sources of information.
For an overview of drinking water issues, read Water on Tap: A Consumer's Guide to the Nation's Drinking Water. You may wish to consult EPA's drinking
water glossary if you find unfamiliar terms in the following pages. For other assistance, please contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
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