Your Municipal Water Report Might Be Telling Only Half the Story – Here’s What You Need to Know

Every summer, millions of Americans receive their annual water quality report in the mail or find it tucked into their water bill. These Consumer Confidence Reports, mandated by federal law, are supposed to give you peace of mind about your tap water. But what if we told you that these reports, while legally compliant, might be missing some critical pieces of the puzzle?

The Legal Framework: What Reports Must Include

Your utility must regularly test the water they supply to you. Utilities test for the more than 90 germs and chemicals that EPA limits in water. EPA requires community water systems to deliver a Consumer Confidence Report, also known as an annual drinking water quality report, to their customers. These reports provide Americans information about their local drinking water quality. Reports must be sent by your water supplier each year by July 1.

These reports include information about water sources, detected contaminants, violation notices, and health effects. However, the key word here is “detected” – and that’s where things get interesting.

The Testing Gap: What’s Not Being Monitored

Here’s a startling reality: Your water is also monitored for many unregulated contaminants. Unregulated contaminants are those that don’t yet have a drinking water standard set by the EPA. The purpose of monitoring for these contaminants is to help the EPA decide whether the contaminants should have a standard.

This means that potentially harmful substances could be flowing from your tap without appearing on your municipal report simply because they’re not yet regulated. Although some contaminants have Federal and (or) State regulations and guidance values, many contaminants, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are unregulated and therefore not routinely tested.

The PFAS Wake-Up Call

The recent attention on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) perfectly illustrates this gap. On April 10, 2024, EPA announced the final NPDWR for six PFAS. But here’s the concerning part: PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others.

On December 27, 2021, EPA published the final fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, which will require sample collection for 29 PFAS between 2023 and 2025. These new data will improve EPA’s understanding of the frequency that 29 PFAS and lithium are found in the nation’s drinking water systems, and at what levels. As part of UCMR 5, EPA is conducting the most comprehensive monitoring effort for PFAS ever, at every large and midsize public water system in America, and at hundreds of small water systems.

This means that for decades, these “forever chemicals” were potentially present in drinking water but weren’t required to be reported because they weren’t regulated.

Timing Delays in Public Notification

Even when problems are detected, the notification timeline varies significantly. If there is an immediate health risk, your utility must tell you about the problem within 24 hours. If there is no immediate health risk, your utility has more time to notify you. They have either 30 days or a year to tell you depending on how serious the problem is.

This means you might be consuming potentially problematic water for months before being officially notified, depending on how the utility classifies the risk level.

The Reality Check: Taking Control of Your Water Quality

Understanding these limitations doesn’t mean you should panic, but it does mean you should be proactive. Knowing if your utility had any violations can help you decide if you need to take steps to make your tap water safer. For example, you may decide to test your tap water for harmful germs or chemicals. You may also consider additional water treatment to remove certain germs or chemicals.

This is where professional water analysis and treatment become invaluable. Quality Safe Water of Florida understands these gaps in municipal reporting and offers comprehensive water testing that goes beyond what’s required by law. Quality Safe Water of Florida is dedicated to ensuring every Florida family has access to clean, safe, and purified water. We are committed to providing the highest quality, efficient, and affordable water treatment solutions, prioritizing the health and well-being of our customers.

What You Can Do Today

First, don’t just file away your annual water report – read it carefully and look for any detected contaminants, even if they’re below regulatory limits. You can also look back at previous reports to see if any violations are ongoing problems.

Second, consider independent water testing. Quality Safe Water of Florida offers a variety of services to meet all your water needs. We’ll provide you with your own custom-designed water purification system, based on your water analysis & your family’s water usage & needs. Their approach recognizes that “One size does not fit all!” when it comes to water treatment solutions.

Third, stay informed about emerging contaminants. What’s unregulated today might become a regulated concern tomorrow, as we’ve seen with PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

The Bottom Line

Your municipal water report is a valuable document that provides important information about your water supply. However, it’s just the starting point, not the complete picture. By understanding its limitations and taking proactive steps to ensure your family has access to quality water, you’re taking control of one of the most fundamental aspects of your health and well-being.

Remember, when it comes to water quality, what you don’t know can potentially harm you. The good news is that with proper testing, analysis, and treatment, you can have confidence in every glass of water you drink, regardless of what your municipal report does or doesn’t tell you.