Is it Safe to Drink Tap Water?
August 17, 2017
Some of you would never dare drink water straight from the sink. Some of you may even be so concerned about the quality of your tap water that you’ve started buying bottled water instead. But really, is tap water safe to drink?
Well, the simple answer is YES!
Generally speaking, in the United States, you can drink from the tap with no risk to your health. The tap water we drink, cook with, and bathe in typically comes from either surface water sources like streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, or from underground sources like aquifers and permeable rocks that can store and transmit water. The Safe Drinking Water Act was passed in 1974. This Act made the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for setting the standards for safe public drinking water coming from all of these sources.
A study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund International found that bottled water is not safer or healthier than tap water. The study concluded that some bottled water only differs from tap water merely by the fact that is distributed in bottles rather than through pipes.
If you have any questions or concerns about your tap water you can contact your community water supplier. The Center for Disease Control requires that every community water supplier provide an annual report, sometimes called a Consumer Confidence Report, or “CCR,” to its customers. This report provides information on local drinking water quality, including the water’s source, contaminants found in the water, and how consumers can get involved in protecting their drinking water.
Just remember though, you should always be aware of any boil water advisories, in the event that water supplies in your area become contaminated.
Now that you know your tap water is safe, make sure the pipes it gets to you through are always well maintained. We are here to help you with any repairs.
Contact Eastern Plumbing: With over 15 years of service experience, we have helped thousands of homeowners in Eastern, NC with their plumbing needs. Our top-notch plumbing technicians can accurately diagnose and quickly fix any plumbing problem you may have.
