Is Your Tap Water Safe? How to Read Your City's Water Quality Report

Why Your City's Water Quality Report Matters More Than You Think

Every public water system in the United States is required by law to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report, commonly known as a CCR. This document is your most reliable source of information about what is actually in the water flowing from your tap. Yet according to surveys, fewer than 30 percent of Americans ever read theirs.

That is a problem. Your CCR is the one document that tells you exactly which contaminants have been detected, at what levels, and whether those levels exceeded federal or state safety standards. If you care about the health of your family, learning to read this report is one of the simplest and most impactful steps you can take.

How to Find Your Water Quality Report

Water utilities must deliver or make available their CCR to customers by July 1 each year. Here is how to get yours:

Check Your Utility's Website

Most large water utilities post their CCR as a downloadable PDF on their website. Search for your city name plus "water quality report" or "consumer confidence report." For example, searching "Denver water quality report" should lead you directly to Denver Water's latest CCR.

Use the EPA's Database

The EPA maintains a searchable database at the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) website. You can search by state, city, or water system name to find compliance data and links to reports.

Search on US Water Grade

You can also use our state water quality pages to find data for your area. Visit our all states overview at /all-states to start exploring, or go directly to individual state pages like /states/california, /states/texas, or /states/florida to find local water quality data.

Request a Copy Directly

If you cannot find your report online, call your water utility. They are legally required to provide it to you. The phone number is typically on your water bill.

Understanding the Key Sections of Your CCR

A typical water quality report contains several important sections. Here is what to look for in each one.

Source Water Information

This section tells you where your drinking water comes from. Water sources generally fall into two categories:

Surface water comes from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. It is more susceptible to runoff contamination from agriculture and urban areas but is typically treated more aggressively.

Groundwater is pumped from underground aquifers through wells. It is naturally filtered by soil and rock but can be contaminated by industrial chemicals, agricultural runoff, and naturally occurring minerals like arsenic.

Knowing your source matters because different sources carry different risk profiles. Cities drawing from agricultural watersheds may see higher nitrate and pesticide levels. Communities near industrial sites may face risks from PFAS or volatile organic compounds.

The Contaminant Data Table

This is the most important section of the entire report. The table lists every contaminant that was tested for, along with these columns:

MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant that the EPA allows in drinking water. This is the legal limit your utility must not exceed.

MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The level of a contaminant below which there is no known health risk. The MCLG is often lower than the MCL and is sometimes set at zero for carcinogens. This is the aspirational target, not the legal requirement.

Your Water's Level: The detected amount, usually reported as an average or range. This is typically measured in parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb), or parts per trillion (ppt).

Violation (Yes/No): Whether your water exceeded the legal MCL at any point during the testing period.

What the Units Mean

Understanding measurement units is essential for making sense of the numbers:

ppm (parts per million) = milligrams per liter (mg/L). One ppm is like one drop in about 13 gallons of water.

ppb (parts per billion) = micrograms per liter. One ppb is one thousand times smaller than one ppm.

ppt (parts per trillion) = nanograms per liter. Used for ultra-trace contaminants like PFAS.

When a report shows lead at 5 ppb, that means 5 micrograms of lead per liter of water. The EPA action level for lead is 15 ppb, so 5 ppb is within legal limits but still above the MCLG of zero.

Contaminants You Should Pay Closest Attention To

While your CCR may list dozens of tested substances, several deserve your focused attention because of their prevalence and health impact.

Lead

Lead is perhaps the most dangerous common drinking water contaminant. There is no safe level of lead exposure, which is why the EPA's MCLG for lead is zero. The action level of 15 ppb triggers mandatory corrective action, but health effects can occur at levels well below this threshold.

Lead typically enters water from corroded pipes, solder, and fixtures in your home's plumbing rather than from the water source itself. This means your water could test clean at the treatment plant but contain significant lead by the time it reaches your faucet. Check your city's lead data on our city pages for the most current information.

PFAS (Forever Chemicals)

As of 2026, water utilities must test for and report six PFAS compounds under the new EPA standards. The maximum contaminant levels are extremely low, just 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS. If your report shows any PFAS detection, even below the MCL, it warrants attention given the bioaccumulative nature of these chemicals. Our PFAS guide at /blog/pfas-drinking-water-guide-2026 has detailed information.

Disinfection Byproducts

When chlorine and chloramine react with organic matter in water, they create disinfection byproducts (DBPs) including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Long-term exposure to elevated DBP levels has been linked to increased cancer risk. The EPA MCL for total trihalomethanes is 80 ppb, and the MCL for HAA5 is 60 ppb. If your report shows levels above 60 percent of these limits, consider a carbon filter.

Nitrates

Nitrate contamination is particularly concerning in agricultural areas. The MCL is 10 ppm. Nitrates are especially dangerous for infants under six months, where they can cause blue baby syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. If you have an infant and your water's nitrate level is above 5 ppm, consider using filtered or bottled water for formula preparation.

Arsenic

Arsenic occurs naturally in groundwater in many parts of the western United States and parts of New England. The MCL is 10 ppb, but many health experts argue that even levels below the legal limit carry health risks. Long-term exposure is associated with increased cancer risk and cardiovascular disease. States like Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico tend to have higher arsenic levels. Check our state rankings to see how your state compares.

Red Flags: When to Take Action

Your water quality report may be technically compliant while still giving you reasons for concern. Here is how to identify red flags:

Violations Listed in the Report

Any violation noted in your CCR means your water exceeded legal safety limits at some point. Take these seriously, even if the utility says the issue was temporary or has been corrected. Ask what remediation steps were taken and request follow-up test results.

Contaminants Near Their MCL

If any contaminant is above 80 percent of its MCL, that is a yellow flag. Treatment systems can fluctuate, and seasonal changes may push levels higher. This is the time to consider home filtration as an additional safety layer.

Presence of Unregulated Contaminants

Some reports include data on contaminants that do not yet have EPA standards, such as certain PFAS compounds, pharmaceuticals, or microplastics. Detection of these substances does not mean your water is unsafe, but it does indicate you may want to invest in advanced filtration.

Lead Action Level Exceedances

If your utility's 90th percentile lead level exceeds 15 ppb, it triggers the Lead and Copper Rule's action level. However, remember that lead levels vary dramatically from home to home depending on plumbing age and materials. Consider getting your own water tested, especially if your home was built before 1986.

How to Use Your CCR Results Effectively

Compare Against Health Guidelines, Not Just Legal Limits

EPA legal limits (MCLs) are set based on a balance of health concerns, treatment feasibility, and cost. Many health organizations recommend stricter thresholds. The Environmental Working Group maintains a database of health-based guidelines that are often significantly lower than EPA standards.

Track Changes Year Over Year

Save your CCR each year and compare results. Rising contaminant levels, even within legal limits, can signal deteriorating source water quality or aging infrastructure. A trend matters more than a single reading.

Cross-Reference with Our Data

Our city and state water quality pages compile data from multiple sources, including EPA compliance monitoring and state health departments. Use our tools to see how your water compares to other cities in your state and across the country. Visit /rankings to see where your state ranks overall.

Get Your Own Water Tested

Your CCR reflects water quality at the treatment plant and distribution system, not at your specific tap. For the most accurate picture, test your own water. Our blog post on home water testing at /blog/how-to-test-home-water-quality-diy explains how to do this effectively.

What to Do if Your Water Quality Report Concerns You

If your CCR reveals contaminant levels that worry you, here are practical steps ranked from simplest to most comprehensive:

1. Install a point-of-use filter: A certified under-sink reverse osmosis system or high-quality carbon filter addresses most common contaminants for $150 to $600.

2. Test your tap independently: Hire a certified lab to test your specific tap water for the contaminants of concern. This costs $50 to $300 depending on what you test for.

3. Contact your utility: Ask questions. Water utilities have public affairs staff who can explain test results and describe treatment processes.

4. Report concerns to your state: If you believe your utility is not adequately addressing water quality issues, contact your state's drinking water program or the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

5. Stay informed: Bookmark your utility's CCR page and our water quality data pages so you receive updates when new data becomes available.

The Bottom Line

Your city's water quality report is not light reading, but it is essential reading. The 15 to 20 minutes it takes to review your CCR each year is a small investment in your family's health. Focus on lead, PFAS, disinfection byproducts, and any contaminants approaching their legal limits. When in doubt, a quality water filter provides an affordable extra layer of protection.

Use our search tools at US Water Grade to look up your city's water quality data and compare it with communities across the country. Knowledge is the first step toward clean, safe drinking water.