United States: More than 97 million Americans are consuming toxic, unregulated substances in their tap water, which are potentially dangerous for their health.
This is found in a new study that raises fresh questions about the quality of drinking water in the US.
More about the news
The drinking water policy of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established, and they regulate over 90 contaminants legally.
This year, researchers from the nonprofit Silent Spring Institute determined that toxins from 27 percent of the 4,800 public water systems it surveyed contained at least one of four “harmful” types of chemicals that were not regulated by the EPA.
Silent Spring used EPA data from 2013 up to 2015 in its research. The EPA is testing the same again, but the data is not available yet, said the study co-author Laurel Schaider, who works at the Silent Spring.
About PFAS
There are around 12,000 types of PFAS – current tests cannot identify all types of the chemical.
In April, the EPA disclosed that it would set drinking water standards for six types of PFAS to limit public exposure to the chemicals by 100 million people by 2029, the New York Post reported.
Silent Spring revealed that Hispanic and black Americans will continue to be more exposed to contaminants in drinking water because their settlements are next to pollution sources: wastewater treatment plantations, airports, military training facilities, and industrial areas.
The study was conducted after discovering a new unidentified chemical byproduct in treated drinking water that is ingested by millions of Americans.
Let this sink in.
— Luther ‘Ćyrus’ (@Censored4sure) January 16, 2025
Over 97 million Americans have been exposed to toxic, unregulated contaminants in their drinking water that could harm their health, according to a new study that adds to growing concerns about the quality of US tap water.
The Environmental Protection Agency… pic.twitter.com/GNdd4LpIKW
If one is not sure whether one can drink tap, Schaider has advised that those worried about the quality of their tap water should consult their local water utility or health department to check if water has been tested for PFAS and other chemicals.
According to Schaider, “When choosing a filtering system, look for one that is NSF P473-certified or meets the NSF/ANSI 53 standard for activated carbon filters and the NSF/ANSI 58 standard for reverse osmosis,” New York Post reported.
“Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and replace the cartridges or membranes as recommended,” he added.
According to Schaider, bottled water may not be any safer than tap water since many bottling companies use water from municipalities.