You might have seen headlines in the news lately concerning the safety of our tap water. If they make you feel — justifiably — a bit anxious, know there’s good data to help put your mind at ease about what flows from our faucets.
Is It OK to Drink Tap Water?
The first important point to note is that tap water in America is among the cleanest and safest in the world. We’re fortunate to have a huge supply of clear, fresh tap water delivered right to our homes for drinking, washing up and anything else.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) heavily regulates America’s drinking water quality with strict national standards and rules. It also allows individual states to put even stronger regulations in place. The EPA makes sure that, for most Americans on a public water supply, their water is clean and safe to drink.
When Tap Water Can Become Unsafe
Tap water in America goes through water treatment plants that filter out germs, pollution, heavy metals, chemicals and other contaminants. These plants filter out more than 90 contaminants and, by EPA rules, use the right technology so the public tap water supply stays safe to drink.
Despite these protections, water quality can temporarily tip into unsafe territory when certain incidents allow contaminants to enter the supply. For example, a train accident may release industrial chemicals into the groundwater. Lead from aging pipes can contaminate water in some homes. Certain farming activities may allow waterborne diseases to enter the supply.
You may find comfort in knowing that when these incidents occur, there are systems and safeguards in place to catch contamination problems quickly. Officials notify people the issue will affect and take action to get their tap water back to safe levels as soon as possible.
New Limits on Forever Chemicals
Water quality rules continue to evolve as new issues arise and research confirms the need for new standards. For example, in 2024, the EPA created a new law addressing PFAS, or forever chemicals, in public drinking water systems.
PFAS are chemicals that can cause serious health risks when they build up in a person’s body. This can happen over time or during certain times, such as childhood. Public drinking water systems have to start testing and limiting their water for certain PFAS by 2025.
Protecting Your Wellness
Tap water can have slight variations in taste and smell that do not signal health concerns. But pay attention if you suddenly notice changes in your water that don’t seem right. Cloudy water or water that looks off-color, foams or has other changes might be contaminated.
If you have a concern, contact your local health department. Tune into any water quality issues or notifications in your area. Consider improving your home’s water quality with a home water filtration system, such as a countertop filter.
Remember that even if your tap water is clean, that doesn’t mean it is sterile. You should not use tap water in:
- CPAP machines
- Humidifiers
- Nasal irrigation devices
- Other home health care devices
How AdventHealth Can Help
We’re always standing by to support you on your path to wellness. AdventHealth offers nutrition and fitness classes, spiritual counseling, health screenings, support groups and more. You can always find what you need, wherever you are on your wellness journey.
If you have questions or want more information, you can learn more about wellness care on our website, or schedule an appointment with one of our providers.
