Even when your faucet water seems to be crystal clear, it’s in all probability hiding a number of invisible contaminants — and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has the information to show it. Over 143 million folks around the globe are uncovered to PFAS of their consuming water every day1.
To assist reveal the omnipresence of those contaminants, the EWG simply launched the latest version of its Faucet Water Database, which aggregates knowledge 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 substances, 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).
“In brief: Authorized doesn’t imply secure,” writes EWG. “Most neighborhood water programs get a passing grade from the federal authorities, regardless that contamination could also be larger than what the most recent science exhibits is secure. That’s as a result of many consuming water laws are old-fashioned or based mostly on outdated science.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 knowledge based mostly on the 1996 Secure Consuming 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 knowledge public in a readily accessible or straightforward to know method,” EWG writes3. “Till the federal authorities steps up, EWG’s Faucet Water Database will proceed to fill this necessary knowledge hole.”
An Simple-to-Use Database for an Alphabet Soup of Contaminants
Consuming water throughout the nation is pulled from a wide range of sources, from rivers and lakes to groundwater. It might turn out to be contaminated in plenty of methods, together with native trade, agriculture, and improper disposal of medicines. Latest analyses discovered 324 totally different contaminants in consuming water throughout the nation, with practically all neighborhood water programs having detectable contaminants — lots of that are probably carcinogenic. A 2019 EWG evaluation discovered that contaminated consuming water might trigger greater than 100,000 extra most cancers instances within the U.S.4
To assist shoppers determine the contaminants almost definitely to have an effect on their water, EWG requested water contaminant knowledge from public and environmental well being businesses in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. After receiving greater than 34 million data, EWG compiled them with the water high quality knowledge 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 indicate the almost definitely contaminants in your faucet water. From there, you should utilize EWG’s useful water filter information to determine which filter is greatest suited to maintain your water freed from the probably contaminants in your space.
What Varieties of Contaminants Are in Consuming Water?
Relying on the place you reside, you’ll encounter totally different contaminants in your water. Listed here are among the most typical contaminants — and how one can cut back your danger of publicity relying on which contaminant you’re coping with.
PFAS, or “Ceaselessly Chemical substances”
After rising to prominence within the ‘40s following the discharge of Teflon nonstick cookware, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) grew to become widespread in the environment. Analysis has since proven that PFAS can contribute to elevated danger of some cancers, lowered immunity, and altered metabolism5. And as of late, research present that these “perpetually chemical substances” 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 just lately taken steps to eradicate these harmful chemical substances from the surroundings6. 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 “one of the crucial notable occasions” of late within the battle 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 could be made underneath the Secure Consuming Water Act, however we have to make secure consuming water a precedence.”
A serious supply of perpetually chemical substances at this time comes from the Division of Protection, which depends on a PFAS-containing firefighting foam. EWG has mapped not less than 720 navy websites nationwide recognized or suspected of discharging these perpetually chemical substances.
Activated carbon filters for water might assist cut back the presence of PFAS in your family8.
Heavy Metals Stay Pervasive
Heavy metals have been additionally extraordinarily current in consuming water — significantly 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 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 steel carcinogen made well-known by the Erin Brockovich case within the ‘90s. It has been linked to most cancers and organ harm and is current within the consuming water of over 250 million People. Regardless of these well-researched ties to most cancers, there is no such thing as a federal restrict for chromium-6.
Lead can be current in some water programs as a result of lead service strains, although Stoiber notes that the EPA has taken steps to eradicate these with “updates to guide and copper laws that required all lead pipes to be eliminated in 10 years.” However, she says, “the destiny of those new laws is unsure.”
In case you dwell in an space served by lead-based strains, EWG suggests lowering the chance 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 have been discovered to contribute to elevated most cancers danger, liver harm, and neurological points, even in small quantities. And in response to EWG, they “persist in consuming water at regarding ranges.”
In 2022, 198 million kilos of chemical substances have been discharged into rivers and streams by industrial companies, in response to the EPA’s Toxics Launch Stock reporting program. Activated carbon filtration is an effective solution 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 danger of most cancers. A brand new meta research in Environmental Well being Perspective confirmed that chlorinating consuming water will increase danger 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 prime carbon filter can take away these contaminants.”
Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Nitrogen and phosphorus are widespread contaminants, particularly in agricultural communities. “Air pollution from farms and manufacturing facility farms is nearly utterly 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 might run off into water sources. Ensuing nitrates have been discovered to contribute to elevated danger of most cancers and thyroid points. Nitrate contamination is especially harmful for infants, EWG cautions.
A reverse osmosis filter is the one solution to take away nitrates from water. For anybody getting ready child formulation with probably contaminated faucet water, one in all these filters is important.
Why Bottled Water Isn’t Essentially the Reply
Some persons are extra delicate to contaminants than others and may train further warning at any time when doable. These embody infants, kids, the aged, and folks with compromised immunity as a result of chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS.
However EWG notes that normally, bottled water just isn’t the reply. Not solely are bottled water producers not required to reveal the degrees of contaminants of their merchandise10, however bottled water may additionally be contaminated with nanoplastics11. Consultants at this time posit that these bottled water nanoplastics are omnipresent potential carcinogens, so chances are you’ll simply be changing one harmful contaminant with one other12.
Maintain Officers Accountable for Offering Clear Consuming Water
Whereas buying a water filter is one solution to preserve your self secure from these contaminants, EWG additionally urges People to carry their elected officers accountable — the burden shouldn’t be on us to seek out clear consuming water.
“Urge leaders to spend money on higher water remedy know-how, 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 assets 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/
