Want the Real Scoop on Tap Water?

Most of us already know that bottled water is not ideal – it’s expensive, it generates a lot of plastic waste, and in some cases the water and the bottle itself aren’t so good for us. But what about tap water?

The general benefits of drinking water are clear: getting the recommended daily amount of water can help keep your skin clear, flushes toxins from your body, and even helps curb obesity. We all know we need to get these eight 8-ounce servings of water a day, so what’s the best source for safe drinking water?

The easiest place to find water is directly from the tap. It’s cheap and you don’t have to go far to get it. But before you start drinking from the faucet you should be aware that not all tap water is created equal.

While some of us don’t like tap water because it can taste funny, some areas of the country actually have dangerously high levels of chemicals, minerals and more in their drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates much of this but there are many contaminants, including pharmaceutical substances, that they don’t. According to the EPA, 89.3% of the nation’s community treatment centers met EPA standards. But a lot can happen to water on its journey from the source to your tap, and it doesn’t matter if you live in a rural or urban area.

In 2004, Washington, D.C. residents were alerted that high levels of lead were found in their tap water. Testing done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially found 193 children in D.C. who had elevated lead levels in their blood. But a recent audit of the study found the number of children affected was vastly underreported. Prolonged exposure to lead can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys.

In early August, residents of Milford, Massachusetts were told to boil all tap water because the town’s water supply recently tested positive for E.coli and other bacteria that can cause severe medical complications. Milford residents are also being advised to throw away any food, drinks, baby formula, or other products made with tap water since August 5, 2009. Milford is located about 40 miles southwest of Boston and has a population of about 25,000 people.

And then there's this case: Northeastern Pennsylvania has had more than 50 cases of methane contaminated water wells in seven counties in Pennsylvania since 2004.

So how can you protect your family and stay hydrated? The best long-term solution is to make tap water safe for everyone. For now, you can follow these steps:

1) Learn more about your local water quality. Ask your water utility for a copy of its annual water quality report and then use the "Making Sense of Your Right to Know Report," to help you understand the data.

2) Consider testing your water yourself. There are state-certified drinking water laboratories in virtually every state that can test your water. Call your state drinking water program or the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800 426-4791) for a list of contacts.

3) If you know you have a tap water quality or taste problem, you can filter your own water. Check out NRDC’s guide to water filters for more information.

The bottom line is this: the tap water in some cities might pose health risks to vulnerable consumers -- people who have serious immune system problems, pregnant women, parents of infants, those with chronic illnesses and the elderly should consult with their health care providers about the safety of tap water.

So get the facts, and think before you drink!

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Dear Jaz -

Thanks for commenting and asking for more information on bottled water.

The main reason bottled water is dangerous to us and the environment is that the plastics don't break down, they photodegrade. That means they break down into tinier and tinier particles that find their way from a landfill into our groundwater and eventually into the oceans. Or, if your bottle of water is left in hot water or too much sunlight, their chemicals can wind up in your water (ever notice a weird taste to your bottled water?).

There are 11 large accumulations of these particles and other trash in the world's oceans. To learn more about the one in the Pacific (more than 2x the size of Texas) click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch

Additionally, we will be posting a new resource section on our website on the best ways to get water in just a few days. Here's a study by one of our member organizations NRDC where they found tap water has more contaminants and pollutants than tap:
http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/bwinx.asp

Thanks and if you have any more questions, please feel free to reach out to us at info@earthshare.org.

Posted by: EarthShare | September 14, 2009 at 11:20 AM