The taste or quality of drinking water can vary from place to place. This is because water comes from different sources and is treated in different ways. Drinking water for people in large cities often comes from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. In rural areas, people are more likely to drink ground water that was pumped from a well. Most water systems meet EPA standards for tap water. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA sets standards for about 90 pollutants in drinking water. The best way to find out about your drinking water is from your water supplier. Water suppliers that serve the same people year-round send their customers an annual water quality report. Contact your water supplier to get a copy. Your local report tells which pollutants are in your drinking water, the source, and the levels at which they were found. If after reading your report you are concerned, you can call a certified lab in your state to test your drinking water. Find contact information at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/labs.html. A water test can cost from $15 to hundreds of dollars. If your water isn't safe to drink, your water supplier must tell you by radio, TV, or another method. The notice will tell you how to make your drinking water safe, such as boiling your water. This kills most disease-causing germs.
But if you have your own well, you have to make sure that your water is safe to drink. You should test your well at least once a year for bacteria. You should also test more often for other pollutants, such as radon and pesticides.
Should I drink bottled water instead of tap water?
Your tap water may be just as safe as bottled water. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets bottled water standards based on EPA's tap water standards. Both bottled water and tap water are safe to drink if they meet these standards. But some people may be more at risk for health problems from pollutants in water. This includes people who:
- have HIV/AIDS
- are being treated for cancer
- take steroids
- have a weakened immune system
If you or someone in your family has these health concerns, talk with your doctor. You may need to boil your water or drink bottled water.
When choosing whether to drink tap or bottled water, also keep in mind that tap water (except well water) has fluoride in it, which helps prevent dental cavities in children. Most bottled waters do not contain fluoride. Talk with your baby's doctor before using bottled water to make formula.
Young children are also more at risk for health problems from high levels of lead. Many older pipes are made of lead or soldered with lead. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, joints, or lead solder. But new homes are also at risk. As a result, lead can leak into your tap water. To avoid lead in your tap water:
- Use water only from the cold tap for making baby formula, for drinking water, and for cooking.
- Let the water run for at least one minute before using it if the water hasn't been turned on for six hours or more. If you have a lead service line, you may need to let the water run for up to 10 minutes.
