The Naughty List: 6 Hidden Dangers in Your Tap Water
Test your Water
While the holidays are a time for celebration, a new report from Erin Brockovich warns that millions of Americans are still consuming water that violates federal safety standards. From aging infrastructure to "forever chemicals," here are the top six threats lurking in our pipes and how to fight back.
1. Lead: The Lingering Ghost
Old infrastructure continues to leach lead into water supplies. Recent 2025 standards in New York highlight that nearly 44% of Long Island school buildings exceeded strict new safety limits.
Action: Use lead-certified filters and flush your pipes by running cold water for a few minutes if the tap has been sitting idle.
2. Microorganisms: Uninvited Guests
Bacteria and viruses often spike after heavy storms or sewage overflows (as seen recently with Hurricane Helene).
Action: Stay alert for local boil-water advisories and set water heaters to 140°F to prevent Legionella growth.
3. Emerging Contaminants: PFAS & Pharmaceuticals
"Forever chemicals" (PFAS) and pharmaceuticals are showing up in rural and urban supplies alike. Because regulations move slowly, many communities are drinking these unregulated chemicals today.
Action: Look for filters specifically certified under NSF/ANSI 401.
4. Arsenic: The Silent Carcinogen
Arsenic is a naturally occurring heavy metal linked to cancer and birth complications. It is particularly prevalent in rural communities and private wells in states like California, Texas, and Michigan.
Action: If you are on a private well, test annually; use NSF/ANSI Standard 53 filters.
5. Radium: Radioactive Risks
Found in all 50 states, radium levels -heightened by oil and gas extraction -have been found at double the legal limit in parts of Colorado and Texas.
Action: Use Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems, which are highly effective at removing radioactive elements.
6. TTHMs: The Irony of Treatment
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) are actually a byproduct of the disinfection process itself. Over 400,000 Americans drink water exceeding safety limits for these cancer linked chemicals.
Action: Activated carbon filters and RO systems are your best defense.
Your Holiday Action Plan
Brockovich emphasizes that while we fight for systemic change and better infrastructure, individual protection is key:
Read your annual Water Quality Report provided by your local utility.
Test your water, especially if you use a private well.
Invest in the right filtration based on your specific local contaminants.
The Bottom Line: Clean water is a human right, but until the system catches up, staying vigilant and informed is the best gift you can give your family.