Experts weigh in on the chemicals that can be found in drinking water, how it’s regulated, and what you can do if you’re worried about your water.
Solution? Filter water at point of use!
What are PFAS, the latest chemicals to get EPA attention?
Type “drinking water” into your search bar, and lately you’re likely to see articles about how it’s full of PFAS, pollutants sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals.” PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a group of thousands of chemicals with tight chemically-bound bonds that help them last in the environment for years.
Certain PFAS compounds have been linked to serious health issues, such as cancer. Recently, the EPA proposed new limits on six of these chemicals in drinking water. Studies conducted on drinking water show PFAS is common in drinking water supplies throughout the U.S., and as a result, these chemicals have been found in our blood.
The EPA rules proposed this month would be the first to meaningfully address PFAS pollution at the federal level and paves a way to remove a toxin that’s been contaminating drinking water for decades.
What can you do if you’re concerned about your tap?
The EPA requires water utilities to publish annual reports identifying any potential health hazards in the community about their water supply. (You can find yours here.)
When hazards emerge, securing clean drinking water can cost individuals.
For short-term emergencies like a boil water notice, bottled water can be a useful resource.
Bottled water bought and sold in the U.S. is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates water based on the same standards the EPA has in place for tap water. Studies done on bottled water have found it’s no cleaner or safer than well-regulated tap water, but it is sold at several times the price of tap water and promotes plastic waste, an emerging drinking water threat.
Filters are another option for addressing tap water concerns. They can be as simple as the relatively inexpensive filters that fit in your fridge or as complex as a thousand-dollar filtration system hooked up to home plumbing.
Source National Geographic.
Safer Drinking Water 
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