GoKawiilSafe, quality drinking water isn't a given, even in countries with historically reliable systems. Incidents of contaminants leaching into water systems from faulty pipes, bacterial contamination and corporations dumping chemicals into water supplies dot our country's history, and should have everyone thinking seriously about water quality. The source of contamination could be coming from inside the house, too, especially in older homes with lead pipes or asbestos.
Before we dive into common drinking water contaminants, I want to clarify that this list doesn't necessarily indicate unsafe levels of any 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 to reading them (PDF).
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
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.
The biggest myth about tap water, according to an expert
Experts I spoke with identified toxins that could be leaching into your tap water. Elena Zaretskaya/Getty Images
According to water scientist Dr. Eric Roy, the biggest misnomer about tap water is that just because it looks, smells, and tastes clean, it is clean. Some of the most harmless impurities, namely byproducts of treatment-center disinfectants, are the ones that affect taste and odor the most, while others, including lead, which can greatly affect your health, can't be detected by human senses at all.
The moral of the story? Clean drinking water isn't a given, and relying on your senses and a bit of wishful thinking isn't really a safeguard against potential problems. Learning what's in your water and then treating it appropriately is the most sensible course of action.
Tap Score's lab-testing and evaluation shows you where the issues are in your tap water. Screenshot by CNET
To arm yourself with useful information, you can have your water tested by a reliable independent water lab, such as Tap Score, for about $300 and get a detailed breakdown of what's in your water and how it could affect your health.
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