Welcome to our site for “Drinking water” we hope this provides information and links for you to educate yourself on clean and safe water for drinking and household use.
Note: There are several links at the bottom of this page.
In the United States, we enjoy some of the best drinking water in the world. Since 1974, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set standards and treatment requirements for water contaminants — over 80 to date. But water problems still exist. Despite EPA’s efforts, source water can become contaminated from industrial discharges, storm run-off, sewage, or animal wastes. Unfortunately, water treatment plants are not always able to remove all the contaminants from this water.
To protect human health, the  EPA is constantly working to make our water safer to drink. Check back often to read about what’s going on in the world of water, new regulations, new information about drinking water treatment, and new problems found in drinking water. We will attempt keep you updated on what you need to know to make informed decisions about your drinking water.
Is your water just H2O? . . . Does it have a funny taste or smell? . . . Do you want your appliances and water fixtures to last longer?
In the U.S., we often take clean water from our taps for granted. But just because your water looks clean doesn’t mean it is. Threats to drinking water quality are on the rise, and EPA cannot always keep up.
Since passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, the EPA has set standards and treatment requirements for municipal water suppliers — almost 80 to date. Many of these pollutants can have adverse effects on your health, causing anything from an unpleasant taste to cancer. Public water utilities are required to provide water that does not contain pollutants above the levels specified by EPA’s regulations. Although they usually provide good quality water, these water treatment plants are not always effective at removing contamination that may harm public health. Sometimes, certain pollutants, like rust or lead, can enter your water after it has left the water treatment plant.
Boiling your water isn’t always the answer. In fact, unless the contamination is caused by bacteria or a virus, boiling your water can make the problem worse by concentrating the pollutant in the reduced volume of water left in the pan.
People who use private wells are not immune from water problems either.
To find out why you should filter water from your public water utility.
To find out why you should filter water from your private well.  Visit the Private well page.
Drinking Water Pathogens and Their Indicators: A Reference Resource
Public Water Utility
Private Well Water
Trihalomethanes
Haloacetic acids
Bromate
Chlorite.
Water systems
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule,
Cryptosporidium Information
Pathogen Information
Pathogen Health Effects
Drinking Water and Health
Link to Resources