Drinking Water Safety

To find out about water in any particular area in the U.S., consider the following alternatives:

The local utility

Most local water utilities have a web site which contains information about the water quality.

Environmental Protections Agency (EPA)

The EPA requires all drinking water suppliers to provide an annual quality statement. The reports are posted on line. You can locate your local area report at: www.epa.gov/safewater/ .  Click on "local Drinking Water Quality."

Don't stop reading the report just because it says in the opening that the water is safe and meets federal and state requirements. That doesn't necessarily mean it's safe for a person with a compromised immune system. It may be a hassle, but read on (or ask one of your Team members to do it for you.)

Natural Resources Defense Council

The National Resources Defense Council prepares a What's On Tap report on water quality in 19 large cities. It is available at www.nrdc.org/water

Commercial Testing

You can have your water tested by a private laboratory, since levels of some contaminants, such as lead, can vary from residence to residence. This is particularly applicable to people who have their own well.

You can find companies that are certified by your state to test water for a variety of contaminants. List of certified testing companies are available as follows:

• www.epa.gov/safewater (click "Local drinking water information.") 
• Your local health department. See: www.fda.gov/oca/sthealth.htm .
• Call the EPA hotline at 800.426.4791.

In Home Testing

In home kits are available on the internet and in stores. To find out if a particular filter removes the contaminant you are concerned about, contact NSF International, a nonprofit product certification organization: www.nsf.org/certified/dwtu or call 800.673.6275.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, a drawback of home testing kits is that most home kits test for one contaminant at a time, which leave you to determine what to test for. Other traces may be missed.

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