A new analysis of nearly 50,000 U.S. water systems found that most contain at least one chemical pollutant at levels exceeding health guidelines, including industrial toxins and farm-related contaminants.
Douglas Main reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- The Environmental Working Group (EWG) updated its national tap water database with data from 2021 to 2023, identifying over 320 contaminants, including PFAS, nitrates, and disinfection byproducts.
- Hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen, was detected in the water of 250 million Americans, while atrazine, a herbicide banned in the European Union, was found in concentrations exceeding health guidelines in 479 systems serving three million people.
- Many legal limits for these substances have not been updated in decades, and experts warn federal regulations remain inadequate to protect public health.
Key quote:
“This is a wake-up call. Outdated federal regulations continue to leave millions of people at risk of exposure to harmful substances.”
— Tasha Stoiber, EWG senior scientist
Why this matters:
For many Americans, turning on the tap is an act of trust — trust that the water flowing into their glass is safe. But across the country, contaminants in drinking water pose serious health risks, from cancer to developmental disorders. While federal and state regulations set legal limits for certain pollutants, those limits often fail to keep pace with emerging science, leaving millions exposed to chemicals that researchers increasingly link to disease.
PFAS chemicals, for example, persist in the environment and accumulate in human bodies, while agricultural runoff can introduce pesticides and other chemicals linked to serious diseases. Without stronger regulations, millions remain exposed to harmful substances in their daily water supply.
Related: The silent threat beneath our feet: How deregulation fuels the spread of forever chemicals
