Should You Drink Tap Water? What Experts Say About Filters And Bottled Options
Water is having a moment. Hydration has crossed the line from helpful health practice to full-blown cultural obsession: We’re hanging charms off our 40-ounce Hydro Flask tumblers, clipping massive bottles on our kids’ backpacks, and lining up at airport water fountains to fill’er up so we don’t miss a sip on the plane.
Yet while we feel virtuous about swigging our daily jug, we’re starting to question the safety of what’s inside of it. Headlines abound about the dangers of so-called “forever” chemicals—those compounds that are used in everything from nonstick pans and microwave popcorn bags to waterproof jackets, and that have made their way into everyday H20. Experts say nearly every person on the planet has these chemicals in their bodies, and they’re linked to serious health problems such as liver disease, diabetes, compromised immunity, cancer, and preeclampsia, as well as difficulty getting pregnant.
Unfortunately, shelling out for bottled water isn’t really a better solution. Besides the environmental impact of all those plastic bottles, there are about 240,000 bits of nano- or microplastics in the average liter of bottled water, new imaging technology reveals. Researchers are working to quantify the health risks, but many suspect high levels can cause inflammation, DNA damage, and organ dysfunction. What’s more, people with these plastics in their carotid artery plaque had a higher risk for heart attack, stroke, and death, according to a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine.
And we can add lead to the list of contaminants to think about. Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that, across the country, about 9 million service lines—the pipe that connects your home to the water main—are made of lead and need to be replaced. (There is no known safe level of consumption for lead; it’s linked to reproductive problems and kidney damage in adults, as well as cognitive impairment, particularly in children, as this demographic is more susceptible to lead absorption.) One estimate by the environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that, between 2018 and 2020, 186 million people—56 percent of the country’s population—drank water with lead levels exceeding that recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
If you’re a little perplexed about what to do now and how to hydrate safely, take comfort: Gregory Pierce, director of the UCLA Water Resources Group, wants the public to understand just how generally safe our drinking water supply is. “The reason why PFAS chemicals and microplastics are now being talked about is because we [scientists and experts] have gotten a lot better at knowing what’s in our water,” he says. “Every water system is following 100 other standards that aren’t getting talked about. On average, the water in the United States is held to a higher standard and tracked more closely than that in other high-income countries.”
The other bit of good news is that new rules are in the works that will result in drinking water that’s even cleaner (and more transparent, both literally and figuratively). Still, in the meantime, there has never been a better moment to learn more about the water we put into our bodies—so we can take steps to stay safe.
From Ground To Table
The majority of Americans get their tap water from ground or surface water that’s monitored and delivered by one of the approximately 50,000 public water systems across the country. “Some states may rely on groundwater, while others might rely more on rivers,” says Kelly Smalling, a U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. About 14 percent of the population use private wells, which are not regulated and rarely monitored. But at the end of the day, “most people have no idea what’s in their drinking water,” she says.
Smalling led a landmark study last year that asked 716 volunteers across the country to collect a sample from their home taps. Her team estimated that at least 45 percent contained at least one type of the so-called “forever” chemicals, which were more likely to be found near densely populated areas, airports, and industrial sites. Homes connected to private and public sources of water had roughly the same amount of contamination, she says.
These chemicals (more formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) are used in a huge variety of consumer and industrial products—“basically, anything that’s greaseproof, stainproof, or water resistant,” says Katie Pelch, an environmental health scientist at the NRDC. That list includes things like nonstick cookware, dental floss, and waterproof mascara. “Once they go to the landfill, the chemicals can leach into water and contaminate surface and groundwater where we get our drinking water,” Pelch says.
However, the term forever chemicals isn’t completely accurate. “We eventually secrete them in urine, but it can take decades to get rid of them,” says Dania Valvi, MD, MPH, PhD, an associate professor of environmental medicine and climate science at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who studies the impact of PFAS on metabolism and fertility. And it can take centuries for the substances to disappear from the environment.
While this all may sound terrifying, it’s important to remember that the PFAS contamination problem isn’t necessarily getting worse; it’s just getting more attention. “PFAS are nothing new, but we’re learning more about their toxicity,” says Smalling. “About a decade ago, most people weren’t aware of them. Now, our news feeds are filled with information about the PFAS and their effects.”
A Short History Of PFAS
PFAS have actually been around since the 1940s, but the public was largely unaware of their dangers until the late 1990s, when an Ohio lawyer named Rob Bilott successfully sued chemical manufacturer DuPont for dumping the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA (a kind of PFAS used in nonstick pans and carpets), which had killed half of his 300-head cowherd in West Virginia.
In 2006, after growing evidence that these chemicals posed a serious health risk (including reports that the chemicals had been found in American blood banks), the EPA asked eight manufacturers to reduce their production by 95 percent by 2010. But it wasn’t until 2015 that 200 scientists came to a consensus and signed the Madrid Statement, presenting eye-opening documentation of the harms—including associations with testicular and kidney cancers, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, obesity, and delayed puberty—and the extent of PFAS contamination. The statement also explained how PFAS had been found in “human tissue and bodily fluids all over the globe” after making their way into drinking water (among other places).
Thankfully, there have been some positive steps taken on the PFAS front this year. In April, the EPA announced a landmark ruling that would set limits on PFAS chemicals in our public tap water systems in order to “reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.” The new rule requires municipal utilities to monitor their water supply for five PFAS chemicals and remove the contaminants when levels get too high—at a total cost of $1.5 billion per year. Every water utility in the country must start monitoring by 2027 and be fully compliant by 2029.
In addition, a new federal law from 2021 provides $12 billion to improve the nation’s drinking water supply, including helping utilities focus on PFAS contamination—and an additional $9 billion to invest in communities impacted by PFAS and other contaminants.
“This science is clear. We know that long-term exposure to these PFAS is related to significant health impacts,” says Mae Wu, deputy assistant administrator for water at the EPA. “We have the data showing how frequently they’re showing up in drinking water, and we are taking steps to reduce it.”
Playing Out In Real Time
Of course, the new EPA rules aren’t popular with everyone. This past June, water companies filed a lawsuit against the regulation, saying it’s too costly to implement new technology to filter out PFAS. And some experts don’t think the rules go far enough. “We know there are other PFAS chemicals in the drinking water supply,” says Pelch of the NRDC. Her organization conducted a study that found 12 PFAS in the water that aren’t included in the new regulations.
But it’s still a move in the right direction. Next, the EPA is tackling lead pipe contamination and working on a new rule that would require municipal water systems to replace all lead service lines within the next 10 years. Additionally, the new treatment technologies that municipal water systems may install, including granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, or membrane technologies, will likely catch other contaminants. “It’s going to significantly improve the quality of drinking water overall,” says Pelch.
In the meantime, it’s our responsibility to know what we’re drinking. “Even though tap water is generally safe to drink, it’s a good idea for everyone to look into the quality of the water coming out of their tap, as water quality often varies even within the same city,” says Pierce of the UCLA Water Resources Group. “You should take action if something seems off or if you think your water is causing health problems or looks, smells, or tastes bad.”
Know What’s In Your H20
Wondering how you can make sure the water going into your pristine water vessel is up to par? Here are some things to consider.
1. Don’t rely on bottled water.
Hauling home pallets of bottled water may seem like a safer swap, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (which regulates bottled water) does not screen or have existing standards for PFAS. Also, you risk ingesting microplastics. “Bottled water has less oversight and fewer rules,” says Pierce. “It’s usually not safer.”
2. Learn more about your local water supply.
Every community water supplier is required to send you a Consumer Confidence Report that provides information about your local drinking water quality. (If you can’t find it online and live in an apartment or rental unit, you may have to contact a building manager or landlord to get access to it.) This report will list which contaminants are present and explain how they could affect your health. “The key is to reduce your own exposure,” says Wu. “Then you can ask your water utility if there are additional filters you can use.” Additionally, contact your local water system representatives if you suspect or detect a problem. If they’re unresponsive, talk to advocates or government officials, adds Pierce.
3. Invest in good filters.
You can opt to install a filtration system for your entire home or under the sink. An inexpensive countertop pitcher that uses granular activated carbon will help too—as long as it’s certified to reduce PFAS. On its site, the EPA offers this guide on the types of filters available. Also, don’t forget to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation and change the filter regularly.
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