Water Quality Action Plan publishes general information about municipal tap water contaminants, drinking water testing, and household water treatment. It is for informational purposes only and it is not medical advice. EPA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulations are legally enforceable standards that apply to public water systems and that limit the levels of contaminants in drinking water. Where this site describes health effects associated with a contaminant, it is reporting what published research and public health agencies say about that contaminant in general; it is not a finding about you, your household, or the water coming out of your own tap. Nothing here can tell you whether something in your water is affecting your health. If you have a specific health concern, raise it with a qualified healthcare provider, and have the water itself tested by a certified laboratory rather than relying on a product review.
We are not a licensed plumber, water-treatment contractor or testing laboratory, and nothing here is an inspection, a water test or a system design. Consumer test kits and strips differ in what they measure and how reliably, and a reading from one is not a certified result. Community water systems are required to deliver customers an annual drinking water quality report, but a system-wide report cannot tell you what is coming out of your own tap, because some contamination is added after the water leaves the system: EPA notes that lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, and that where a lead service line connects a home to the water main those pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. Water chemistry, plumbing codes, permit requirements and installer licensing all differ by state and by water system, so any specific course of action, including equipment selection, sizing and installation, should be confirmed with a licensed professional in your area and with your local water utility or state drinking water program. Product recommendations on this site are editorial, may earn us an affiliate commission, and are not a professional endorsement.