Clean drinking water is a fundamental necessity. Still, even properly treated tap water won't always be completely free from contamination. This is because water utilities rarely have the technology (or the funds) to provide pure water through powerful filtration or distillation.
Instead, the goal is to remove as much contamination as possible to minimize health hazards. Accidents and aging infrastructure also play a role. Fortunately, you can find a wealth of information and resources for home water treatment. So, let's dig into how to learn about your water supply, a few common contaminants and what you can do for cleaner drinking water at home.
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The importance of water quality reports
It's essential to review your local water quality report so you can determine if you want to take additional filtration steps at home to further enhance your drinking water. EPA
Before I dive into the most common drinking water contaminants, I want to clarify that this list doesn't necessarily mean there are unsafe levels of a given contaminant in your area's drinking water. The easiest way to determine what's in your water is to review the annual water quality report from your local water utility. Don't forget to consult the EPA's handy guide on how to read them (PDF).
One thing you'll notice in these reports is that regulations set an ideal goal, the maximum contaminant level goal but recognize that water treatment technology can't always deliver so they provide a realistic standard, the maximum contaminant level.
Similarly, you can find home test kits from Safe Home and Easytest for about $30 or less. Both products can test for lead, bacteria and excess chlorine. (Most people lack the resources for professional water testing services.) If you use well water, it's a good idea to test it at least once a year.
6 common drinking water contaminants
Pulling back the curtain on what's in your drinking water might encourage you to invest in a water filter. (Even if it's mostly for houseplants, like my Typhoon III reverse osmosis system.) John Carlsen/CNET
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