Even when your faucet water seems to be crystal clear, it’s most likely hiding a number of invisible contaminants — and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has the info to show it. Over 143 million folks all over the world are uncovered to PFAS of their consuming water each day1.
To assist reveal the omnipresence of those contaminants, the EWG simply launched the latest version of its Faucet Water Database, which aggregates information on 50,000 water programs throughout the nation from 2021 to 2023. That is the most recent replace of the EWG faucet water database, which first started in 2005.
What Is the EWG Faucet Water Database For?
The EWG water database reveals the widespread presence of chemical compounds, heavy metals, and different worrying substances in consuming water throughout the U.S. — solely a few of that are regulated by the Environmental Safety Company (EPA).
“Briefly: Authorized doesn’t imply secure,” writes EWG. “Most group water programs get a passing grade from the federal authorities, although contamination could also be greater than what the most recent science exhibits is secure. That’s as a result of many consuming water laws are outdated or primarily based on outdated science. And there aren’t any laws for a lot of contaminants.” In different phrases, most of us are consuming contaminated water with out realizing it.
Whereas EPA is legally required to publish this information primarily based on the 1996 Protected Ingesting Water Act Amendments, its failure to take action practically 30 years later has impressed EWG’s continued work on this area2. The EPA “nonetheless has not made this information public in a readily accessible or simple to grasp method,” EWG writes3. “Till the federal authorities steps up, EWG’s Faucet Water Database will proceed to fill this necessary information hole.”
An Simple-to-Use Database for an Alphabet Soup of Contaminants
Ingesting water throughout the nation is pulled from quite a lot of sources, from rivers and lakes to groundwater. It might probably grow to be contaminated in numerous methods, together with native trade, agriculture, and improper disposal of medicines. Latest analyses discovered 324 completely different contaminants in consuming water throughout the nation, with practically all group water programs having detectable contaminants — a lot of that are doubtlessly carcinogenic. A 2019 EWG evaluation discovered that contaminated consuming water might trigger greater than 100,000 extra most cancers circumstances within the U.S.4
To assist shoppers establish the contaminants more than likely to have an effect on their water, EWG requested water contaminant information from public and environmental well being companies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. After receiving greater than 34 million information, EWG compiled them with the water high quality information collected as a part of EPA’s Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule into the easy-to-use database.
To make use of the database, all it’s worthwhile to do is enter your ZIP code to point out the more than likely contaminants in your faucet water. From there, you should use EWG’s useful water filter information to establish which filter is finest suited to maintain your water freed from the doubtless contaminants in your space.
What Sorts of Contaminants Are in Ingesting Water?
Relying on the place you reside, you’ll encounter completely different contaminants in your water. Listed below are a few of the commonest contaminants — and how one can cut back your threat of publicity relying on which contaminant you’re coping with.
PFAS, or “Perpetually Chemical compounds”
After rising to prominence within the ‘40s following the discharge of Teflon nonstick cookware, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) turned widespread in our surroundings. Analysis has since proven that PFAS can contribute to elevated threat of some cancers, diminished immunity, and altered metabolism5. And nowadays, research present that these “perpetually chemical compounds” are current within the blood of practically all People (together with newborns!), in addition to the consuming water of greater than 143 million folks.
EPA has not too long ago taken steps to eradicate these harmful chemical compounds from the setting6. For Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D., a senior scientist at EWG, says the finalization of latest federal consuming water requirements for six PFAS in 2024 was “some of the notable occasions” of late within the struggle for clear consuming water7.
“This was particularly vital as a result of there has not been a brand new regulation for an unregulated consuming water contaminant handed in practically 25 years,” Stoiber provides. “This instance demonstrates that progress might be made underneath the Protected Ingesting Water Act, however we have to make secure consuming water a precedence.”
A significant supply of perpetually chemical compounds immediately comes from the Division of Protection, which depends on a PFAS-containing firefighting foam. EWG has mapped at the least 720 navy websites nationwide recognized or suspected of discharging these perpetually chemical compounds.
Activated carbon filters for water might assist cut back the presence of PFAS in your family8.
Heavy Metals Stay Pervasive
Heavy metals had been additionally extraordinarily current in consuming water — notably arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and lead.
Arsenic enters waterways both when pure mineral deposits erode and dissolve, or by the use of contamination with industrial and agricultural waste merchandise9. It might probably trigger bladder, lung, and pores and skin most cancers, and is present in consuming water in all 50 states.
Hexavalent chromium, also referred to as chromium-6, is the heavy metallic carcinogen made well-known by the Erin Brockovich case within the ‘90s. It has been linked to most cancers and organ injury and is current within the consuming water of over 250 million People. Regardless of these well-researched ties to most cancers, there isn’t a federal restrict for chromium-6.
Lead can be current in some water programs as a consequence of lead service strains, although Stoiber notes that the EPA has taken steps to eradicate these with “updates to steer and copper laws that required all lead pipes to be eliminated in 10 years.” Nonetheless, she says, “the destiny of those new laws is unsure.”
If you happen to dwell in an space served by lead-based strains, EWG suggests lowering the probability of contamination by flushing the pipes with chilly water every morning and utilizing solely chilly water for cooking.
Industrial Pollution Persist at “Regarding Ranges”
Risky natural compounds (VOCs) like benzene and trichloroethylene are widespread industrial pollution which were discovered to contribute to elevated most cancers threat, liver injury, and neurological points, even in small quantities. And in accordance with EWG, they “persist in consuming water at regarding ranges.”
In 2022, 198 million kilos of chemical compounds had been discharged into rivers and streams by industrial companies, in accordance with the EPA’s Toxics Launch Stock reporting program. Activated carbon filtration is an effective method to take away these contaminants out of your consuming water.
Chlorine Contributes to Carcinogenic Disinfection Byproducts
Chlorine is a typical disinfectant used to kill off harmful pathogens and make consuming water secure. However when utilized in extra, chlorine might mix with natural matter to create harmful “disinfection byproducts” in faucet water, which EWG notes can contribute to reproductive well being points and elevated threat of most cancers. A brand new meta examine in Environmental Well being Perspective confirmed that chlorinating consuming water will increase threat of bladder most cancers by 33%9.
Even water programs with comparatively low ranges of contaminants might include disinfection byproducts, Stoiber says. Fortunately, she provides, “a easy desk high carbon filter can take away these contaminants.”
Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Nitrogen and phosphorus are frequent contaminants, particularly in agricultural communities. “Air pollution from farms and manufacturing facility farms is nearly fully exempt from water air pollution legal guidelines, together with the Clear Water Act that was enacted greater than 50 years in the past,” writes EWG.
Yearly, farmers throughout the nation apply greater than 12 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer and 4 million tons of phosphorus fertilizer to cropland, which may run off into water sources. Ensuing nitrates have been discovered to contribute to elevated threat of most cancers and thyroid points. Nitrate contamination is especially harmful for infants, EWG cautions.
A reverse osmosis filter is the one method to take away nitrates from water. For anybody getting ready child system with doubtlessly contaminated faucet water, certainly one of these filters is crucial.
Why Bottled Water Isn’t Essentially the Reply
Some individuals are extra delicate to contaminants than others and will train additional warning every time potential. These embrace infants, youngsters, the aged, and folks with compromised immunity as a consequence of chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS.
However EWG notes that usually, bottled water is just not the reply. Not solely are bottled water producers not required to reveal the degrees of contaminants of their merchandise10, however bottled water may be contaminated with nanoplastics11. Specialists immediately posit that these bottled water nanoplastics are omnipresent potential carcinogens, so you might simply be changing one harmful contaminant with one other12.
Maintain Officers Accountable for Offering Clear Ingesting Water
Whereas buying a water filter is one method to maintain your self secure from these contaminants, EWG additionally urges People to carry their elected officers accountable — the burden shouldn’t be on us to search out clear consuming water.
“Urge leaders to spend money on higher water remedy expertise, create sustainable funding for water system enhancements and shield supply waters to maintain air pollution out of your water within the first place,” writes EWG.
That is particularly necessary in the event you dwell in an space the place your water system serves solely a handful of individuals. “These programs have a tendency to not have as many sources for upgrades for remedy or as many choices for water sources,” says Stoiber.
Sources:
- https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2024/11/new-epa-data-show-millions-more-exposed-forever-chemicals
- https://www.congress.gov/104/plaws/publ182/PLAW-104publ182.pdf
- https://staging.ewg.org/tapwater/FAQ.php
- https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/ewg-study-estimates-more-100000-cancer-cases-could-stem-contaminants-tap
- https://www.niehs.nih.gov/well being/subjects/brokers/pfc
- https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-strategic-roadmap-epas-commitments-action-2021-2024
- https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/information/2024/04/what-do-new-federal-pfas-drinking-water-standards-mean
- https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/water-filter-ins-and-outs.php
- http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/docs/security/faq-arsenic-drinking-water.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39837568/
- https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/plastic-particles-bottled-water
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36739075/
