Is Your Drinking Water Safe? Understanding Water Quality Reports

Every year, your water utility sends out a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), also called a water quality report. Most people glance at it and toss it aside. But this document contains important information about what is in your water.

What Is a Water Quality Report?

The EPA requires all community water systems to provide annual reports to customers. These reports detail:

• Where your water comes from
• What contaminants were detected
• How levels compare to legal limits
• Potential health effects of contaminants

You can usually find your report online at your water utility's website or request a copy by calling them.

Key Terms You Will See

MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level)

This is the legal limit for a contaminant in drinking water. Water utilities must keep levels below the MCL.

MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal)

The level at which no known health effects occur. MCLGs are often lower than MCLs, which factor in treatment feasibility and cost.

Action Level

For some contaminants like lead, there is no "safe" level. The action level triggers required actions if exceeded.

ND (Non-Detect)

The contaminant was not found, or was below the detection limit.

ppm and ppb

Parts per million and parts per billion - measurement units. For perspective, 1 ppm is like one drop in a 13-gallon tank.

Common Contaminants to Watch For

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)

When chlorine reacts with organic matter, it creates byproducts like trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Long-term exposure is linked to increased cancer risk.

Lead

No level of lead is safe, especially for children. Lead typically comes from old pipes and plumbing fixtures, not the water source itself.

Nitrate

Common in agricultural areas, nitrate is dangerous for infants and can indicate other contamination.

Arsenic

Naturally occurring in some groundwater, arsenic is a known carcinogen with a current MCL of 10 ppb.

PFAS

"Forever chemicals" that are increasingly being detected in water supplies. Many utilities are now testing for these.

What the Report Does Not Tell You

Your Specific Tap

Water quality reports show what leaves the treatment plant, not what comes out of your faucet. Pipes in your home or leading to it can add contaminants.

Everything in Your Water

Reports only cover regulated contaminants. Many substances are not regulated or not required to be reported.

Hardness and Aesthetic Issues

Hard water, while not a health concern, is usually not prominently featured despite affecting daily life.

When "Safe" Does Not Mean "Ideal"

Just because water meets legal standards does not mean it is free of concerns:

• Legal limits are based on balancing health, cost, and feasibility
• Some limits have not been updated in decades
• Sensitive groups (pregnant women, infants, immunocompromised) may need stricter standards
• Combinations of contaminants are not studied

Taking Control of Your Water Quality

If you want water quality beyond what your utility provides, home treatment options include:

Activated Carbon Filters

Remove chlorine taste and odor, and some organic compounds. Available as pitcher filters, faucet attachments, or whole-house systems.

Reverse Osmosis

Removes the widest range of contaminants including lead, nitrates, and many others. Ideal for drinking water.

Water Softeners

Address hard water minerals that affect appliances and daily comfort.

Get Your Water Tested

Want to know exactly what is coming out of your tap? A professional water test examines your specific water and identifies any issues. We offer free water testing throughout Northeast Ohio.