A Cocktail Of Chemicals Remains In Our Drinking Water
Key Facts & Statistics About Drinking Water Contamination
The updated EWG “Tap Water Database” (2021–2023, ~ 50,000 water systems) found 324 different contaminants in drinking water across the United States — and almost all community water systems had detectable contaminants. EWG+2EWG+2
Among those contaminants: “forever chemicals” (PFAS), industrial pollutants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, radionuclides, disinfection by-products, nitrates, and more. EWG+2EWG+2
More than 143 million Americans may be exposed to PFAS through their drinking water. EWG+1
The toxic chemical Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) — the carcinogen made infamous by the events depicted in Erin Brockovich — contaminates water supplies for over 200 million Americans. EWG+2EWG+2
In tests of 35 U.S. cities, 31 had detectable chromium-6 in tap water. EWG+1
Many water supplies contain multiple contaminants simultaneously — heavy metals (like arsenic), PFAS, VOCs, nitrates, disinfection by-products, radiological contaminants — rather than just one. EWG+2The New Lede+2
Current U.S. regulations often lag behind scientific research — many contaminants are not regulated or are regulated under outdated standards. As a result, water that “meets standards” may still pose health risks according to modern health-based guidelines. EWG+2Fortune+2
The EWG warns that many contaminant levels — even if under federal legal maximums — exceed health-based limits proposed by scientists, meaning “safe under law” doesn’t always equate to “safer for you.” EWG+1
Some of the contaminants found (PFAS, VOCs, heavy metals, etc.) are linked to serious health risks: cancer, immune suppression, developmental harm, organ damage, reproductive issues, and more. EWG+2EWG+2
Because of how widespread contamination is — and how many contaminants can co-occur — using filtration that targets multiple contaminant types simultaneously (metals, chemicals, PFAS, etc.) is far more effective than a filter aimed only at one problem.
Reference: https://www.thebrockovichreport.com/p/a-cocktail-of-chemicals-remain-in?r=ilgl8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web