When chlorine is added to water, it can react with naturally occurring organic compounds, forming hundreds of different types of disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Even though some DBPs have no toxicity, long-term exposure to certain unintended byproducts could have health risks.³ Some commonly monitored DBPs include total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), which are comprised of chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform, and haloacetic acids (HAAs).⁴ Due to the increased risk of cancer caused by long-term exposure to this class of compounds, the EPA has regulated TTHMs and HAAs by creating maximum contaminant levels and mandating compliance monitoring requirements.⁵

People are using more and more pharmaceuticals and personal care products each year, and unfortunately these chemicals are increasingly being detected at low levels in surface water.¹³ Drug take-back programs and educating the public on the best way to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals are crucial ways to help keep these chemicals out of the environment. However, they can still make their way into the environment through normal usage, like washing off of your skin or excretion, and sewage treatment plants aren’t designed to remove them from wastewater.¹⁴

A typical chlorination treatment removes about 50% of pharmaceuticals, and while low concentrations of pharmaceuticals don’t pose a short-term risk to your health, there’s still a lot that we don’t know.¹⁵ Drug take-back programs are the best and safest ways to dispose of your unused or expired prescriptions and over the counter drugs. Many pharmacies accept unwanted pharmaceuticals year-round, and you can find a list of permanent disposal sites on the Diversion Control website. You can also dispose of your prescriptions during a take-back event on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in October.

Of all the contaminants that affect water quality, none are more closely followed than copper and lead. As the pipes and water mains in the U.S. water network continue to age, corrosion releases toxic metals like lead into drinking water.

At the end of 2020, the EPA finalized the first major update to the lead and copper rule in almost 30 years, which is currently undergoing review and public comment. In children, exposure to lead causes irreversible and long-term negative health impacts, including decreasing focus, IQ and academic achievement.²¹ The revised rule is meant to better protect children and communities, requiring that community water systems check the levels of lead in elementary schools and child care centers within their service territories.²²

The new rule has also modified the tap sampling protocols to better capture elevated lead problems and lead coming in from service lines. If lead is found above the new threshold of 10 parts per billion (ppb), more rapid action will be required, including corrosion control, treatment and replacement of lead service lines. The new rule will trigger more instances when lead service lines must be completely replaced, compared to the previous rule. It will also require more transparency, such as providing the public with an inventory of lead service lines and notifying customers whose water tests show a presence of lead.

If you’d like to test your water for lead, you can contact your water provider for options, or complete an independent test with a certified lab. Visit tapscore.com to find targeted water test kits that can help answer some of the questions you may have about your water.