Living in the US we are not accustomed to worrying about the safety of the water coming out of our taps. That’s because state and federal standards are in place that help safeguard public drinking water. Still, while the US is among the safest water in the world, tainted water can enter our bodies when we drink, bathe, cook, launder and play – sometimes with catastrophic consequences. Life-threatening illness and birth defects can sometimes be traced back to contaminated drinking water, but mild diseases such as gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, rashes, allergies and tooth wear can also be caused by toxins in our water.
In 1974 Congress passed the Clean Water Act, which regulates the nation’s public drinking water. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with enforcing standards for contaminants in drinking water – making sure public water is treated and distributed by qualified operators and that pollutant-specific tests are performed regularly. Water suppliers are then required to issue to their customers an annual water quality report or consumer confidence report (CCR) that indicates what contaminants have been detected and how those levels compare to drinking water standards. They are also required to notify the general public if water isn’t fit for human consumption.