Is your tap water safe? How to learn about your home’s water quality

Is your tap water safe?
While the U.S. has one of the safest water systems in the world, the quality of tap water varies from city to city, and boil water advisories or other water-related issues are not uncommon.
Tap water can pose a health risk. From 2015 to 2020, public health officials in more than two dozen states, including Texas, reported a total of 214 intestine-related disease outbreaks associated with drinking water, according to an analysis from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreaks resulted in at least 2,140 illnesses, 563 hospitalizations, and 88 deaths.
It’s possible to learn about your water quality. Here’s how:
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Each year by July 1, water suppliers are required to release a Consumer Confidence Report, also known as a drinking water quality report. The reports are sent through the mail and are available on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website. Many cities and utility providers publish their reports on their own websites.
Reports detail where your water comes from, such as an aquifer, lake or river; a list of regulated contaminants detected and the level; potential health risks from the contaminants; and how the problem will be fixed. The EPA regulates nearly 100 contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, microorganisms and byproducts from manufacturing and agriculture.
In areas with considerable non-English speaking populations, providers should publish the reports in other relevant languages or detail how to request one.
If you get your water from a well — like an estimated 43 million Americans — you will not get a Consumer Confidence Report. Private groundwater wells are not subject to EPA regulations.
Private well owners should have their wells tested annually for mechanical problems, cleanliness and the presence of contaminants, such as coliform bacteria and nitrates, according to the National Ground Water Association. Well water should be tested more than once a year if there are recurrent incidents of gastrointestinal illness among household members or a change in taste, odor or appearance of the water.
States, including Texas, provide information to help well users check their drinking water. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has developed a list of laboratories that provide testing. Costs can range from $20 to test for one contaminant to $400 for a full drinking water standards analysis, according to the Texas Water Development Board.
Once you know more about your water, you can choose from different treatment methods, as described by the Texas Well Owner Network.
Public health officials issue boil water notices when they are concerned about potential contamination, which can stem from power outages, water main breaks or loss of pressure, among other reasons.
During a boil water advisory, you should use bottled water or boil your tap water for two minutes before using. Under an advisory, people should not brush their teeth or wash fruits and vegetables with untreated tap water, although it is safe to do laundry and run the dishwasher. Even filtered water should be boiled.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends using a certified laboratory. Like well water tests, costs vary widely depending on the type of test.
Do-it-yourself testing has gained popularity, but Consumer Reports says users should be wary of tests that are not sent to laboratories.
The New York Times’ Wirecutter tested 11 home water quality tests and recommended the Tap Score Advanced City Water Test, which tests for more than 100 contaminants and explains what they are and what to do if there’s a problem. Customers send these tests to a laboratory.
Consumer Reports also said tests from National Testing Laboratories and Cyclopure, which are sent to laboratories, performed well. Once you know what’s in your water, the outlet recommends numerous options for water filters, including under-sink and faucet-mounted filters and reverse osmosis systems.