Public water systems must meet federal and state limits and publish an annual water quality report. That report is useful. It describes water at the source of the water, treatment plant, and/or a summary of the testing that is normally conducted. It does not tell you what you are actually drinking and it normally does not include all the regulated and unregulated drinking water contaminants.

In the U.S., about 18,000 community water systems had at least one drinking water standard violation in FY 2022, and about 3,000 had a health-based violation. Those systems serve roughly 22 million people.

In addition to these concerns, the federal drinking water standards do not apply to the secondary drinking water contaminants that can cause aesthetic problems, you may have preference to drink water that contains no arsenic, lead, or other contaminants, or you or the system is experiencing a nuisance or a problem with your water.

The most common city drinking water issues include: corrosion (elevated levels of copper and lead), elevated levels of chlorine by-products (potential carcinogens), forever chemicals, nuisance issues related to elevated levels of hardness (Scale Formation, iron, and manganese), and issues related to microbiological regrowth.

Lead rarely starts at the plant. It leaches from older service lines, solder, and brass fixtures, but lead can be present in the original source water. The health goal for lead is zero because there is no known safe level of exposure, especially for infants and pregnant women. Two homes on the same street can have very different results for lead and many other contaminants.

Chlorine and chloramine keep water safe from germs that once caused serious disease. They can also react with organic matter to form disinfection byproducts such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. Taste and residual change with the season and with how far you live from the plant.

Note: Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are "a group of carboxylic acids formed as unwanted disinfection byproducts when chlorine or chloramines react with natural organic matter (such as decaying leaves and soil) during municipal drinking water treatment". 

PFAS, often called forever chemicals, have been found in many public water supplies. Utility testing schedules and the compounds covered vary. A current sample from your tap is the only way to see your own result.

Many city water sources may still have levels of hardness, alkalinity, iron, and manganese that may cause nuisance issues and interfere with the normal operations of your water related appliances. In some cases, this may include the build-up of chemical scales and coatings or cause discolored water and taste issues.

Conducting an informational or certified city water test is a way to check on the quality of the water that has been delivered to your home and produced by your system. If there is a problem or issue, you now have the data to understand the problems and move to a solution.

What a city water test covers and recommended test

1. Lead and copper, the metals most often added by plumbing (Corrosion Issues, Nuisance, and Health Issues) Corrosion Check Kit
   
   
2. Chlorine or chloramine residual and Disinfection byproducts that form after treatment (Health Issues and Nuisance Issues) City Water Basic
   
   
3. PFAS compounds when you choose that panel (Health, Nuisance, and Aesthetic Issues) Deluxe City Water Test Kit — PFAS, VOCs, Pesticides & 134 Analytes for Municipal Water
   
   
4. pH and hardness, which relate to scale, spotting, and corrosion (Corrosion Issues, Nuisance, and Health Issues) City Water Standard
   
   
5. Concerns related to Microbiological Regrowth in the Distribution System of the Home (Corrosion Issues, Nuisance, and Health Issues) Problem Checker.

Home test strips can rough-check chlorine or hardness. They are not a substitute for certified lab results on lead or PFAS, but they can be a great screening tool. We call this Level II testing !

Who should test

1. Parents mixing infant formula with tap water
2. Buyers of homes built before the mid-1980s
3. Anyone who noticed a change in taste, smell, or color
4. Households checking a filter before and after installation
5. Residents whose utility has mentioned lead service lines or a recent main break or Recent Water Advisory
6. Residents with a new health issue or concern.

How testing works

Order a mail-in kit made for municipal water, tap water or otherwise known as city water. Collect a sample from the cold kitchen tap using the instructions in the kit. Lead tests use a first-draw sample after the water has sat unused. Other tests may use a flushed sample. If possible, ship or return the bottles the same day and if possible collect on a Monday Tuesday or Wednesday.

A certified or registered drinking-water lab runs the analysis. You receive a plain-language report that compares results with EPA benchmarks and notes the sampling method. Typical turnaround is two to three weeks. A rapid testing turn-around is available. This is the Quick Series.

Get your tap tested

Order a city water test kit. Results are emailed. This service is independent of your water utility.

Learn more with our drinking water educational booklet

Want to learn more about your drinking water? Order our educational booklet for well water and city water as a companion to your water-testing journey.

Order the Drinking Water Guide for Well Water and City Water Booklet

Questions

If my city report looks fine, why test?

The city water report does not evaluate the quality of your water that is entering your home or in your home. Many city water problems are related to what happens in the distribution system and your home. Lead and copper usually enter from the service line or household plumbing after the water leaves the plant.

Is city water unsafe?

Treated city water is regulated and usually meets standards at the plant. Testing checks the water after it travels through the distribution system to your tap.

How should I sample for lead?

Follow the first-draw steps in the kit. Do not flush the tap first. Collect the first flush water after the stagnation period listed in the instructions if you are checking for corrosion related issues.

Can I test my filter?

Sample before the filter for a baseline. Sample after it to see reduction. Both samples are useful if you are deciding whether to keep a system.

The Know Your H20 Team facilitates independent laboratory testing for people on city water. We are not a utility or a regulator. Results are for your information and can be shared with your water provider or a plumber. We do not share your results with the government and we are here to help YOU!

Resources - Other Articles

Blue City Water and Bad Odors: Could Microbial Corrosion Be the Cause?

Case Study 6 | Repeated Hot Water Heater Failures

Get Informed | Nuisance Bacteria

Know Your H20 - Water Treatment Topics

If you are going to have your drinking water tested using informational water testing, please consider using the NTL Mail Order Testing Service (Well Water / City Water).

Other Testing Kits for City Water Applications

Ultimate Home Water Test Kit for Drinking Water | Tests for 250+ Parameters Like Lead, Bacteria, and VOCs | Well or Tap Water Test

Professional PFAS Test for Drinking Water | Certified Tap Score Home Kit | Mail-in Lab Analysis | Easy Sampling, Shipping Included | Approved Testing Method

Legionella in Water Test Kit | Specialized Approved Drinking Water Labs | #1 Best Home Water Test 2021-24

Mold and Fungus in Water Test Kit | Specialized Approved Drinking Water Labs | 100% Unbiased

Biofilm Bacteria in Water Test Kit | Well or City | Full Report | EPA Certified Drinking Water Labs | #1 Best Home Water Test 2021-24 NYT Wirecutter

Point of Use and Whole House Water Treatment Systems

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Other Websites

Know Your H20
B.F. Environmental Consultants
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians
Keystone Clean Water Team (Donate)

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