When you receive a laboratory report and it shows contamination in your drinking water, it can be confusing and frightening to know what to do next. Your next steps depend on the concentration, what contaminant was detected, and your situation.

 

A contaminant being detected does not automatically mean that your water is unsafe to drink. You need to look at the concentration and understand what that contaminant means before deciding what to do.

 

What to Do If a Contaminant Is Detected but Below EPA Limits

 

If a parameter is detected above the laboratory’s detection limit but is below the applicable EPA drinking water standard, you will have to consider the concentration, what the contaminant is, and your situation.

 

There are several actions you can take no matter what these answers are.

 

The first is to stay informed. On the Safe Home Test Kits Learning Center and the EPA’s website, there are many resources to help you better understand each contaminant, what risks it may pose, and where it could be coming from.

 

If you decide you do not need to take action such as filtration, you should continue to monitor for changes. Water testing simply shows you a snapshot in time. If a contaminant is present, you may want to test again later to make sure the concentration has not increased.

 

We recommend testing again in another 3–6 months when you are monitoring a contaminant that was detected. Many people also test their water annually to monitor their overall water quality.

 

Concentration

 

If your water report shows that your water has a contaminant but it is below the applicable EPA standard, your actions should be based on the level and what the contaminant is.

 

Your laboratory report shows concentration of the contaminant and compares it to the EPA drinking water standard. It is important to look at how high the concentration actually is.

 

For example, a contaminant that is detected at a very low concentration may require a different response than the same contaminant detected much closer to its drinking water standard.

 

A low-level detection does not automatically mean that you need to switch to bottled water or have an expensive filtration system installed.

 

What Is the Contaminant?

 

It largely depends on what the contaminant is.

 

If VOCs or pesticides are detected in your water, for example, you may want to investigate where they could be coming from before deciding what to do next. Possible sources can include agricultural activity, industrial activity, fuel or chemical spills, improper waste disposal, and other sources depending on the contaminant and your location.

 

It is also important to note that EPA drinking water standards do not mean that every amount of a contaminant below the standard is completely risk-free.

 

For example, lead is a good example of why you need to look at more than just whether a result is above or below an EPA standard. EPA’s maximum contaminant level goal for lead is zero because there is no known safe level of lead exposure. Lead is regulated differently from many other contaminants through a treatment technique and action level for public water systems.

 

This does not mean that every detection of lead requires the same response. The concentration, how the sample was collected, the source of the lead, and who is being exposed are all important when deciding what to do.

 

Your Situation

 

Your actions will also depend on your situation.

 

If you have no known health concerns and are on city water, you may want to talk to your local health department or water utility to get more information and continue to monitor your water.

 

If you have young children, someone who is pregnant, or someone who may be more vulnerable to a particular contaminant, you may want to take additional precautions while you investigate the result. Depending on the contaminant, this could mean using another water source temporarily or talking to a water treatment professional or health professional.

 

The important thing is to consider the specific contaminant rather than assuming that every detection presents the same risk.

 

What to Do If a Contaminant Is Detected Above an EPA Standard

 

If your laboratory report shows a contaminant above an EPA drinking water standard, the first step is to determine what type of standard you are looking at and what it means for your water.

 

EPA has primary drinking water standards that are intended to protect public health. EPA also has secondary drinking water standards that generally address things like taste, odor, color, staining, and other aesthetic or cosmetic concerns.

 

Primary standards are the ones that should get your immediate attention when evaluating a potential health concern. Secondary standards can still be important because they can affect your water quality, appliances, plumbing, staining, taste, or odor, but an exceedance does not necessarily mean that the water presents a health risk.

 

It is also important to understand that EPA’s drinking water standards are primarily regulations for public water systems. If you are testing a private well, these standards are still useful for understanding your results, but you should also consider your state and local requirements and talk with your local health department when appropriate.

 

If a contaminant that has a health-based drinking water standard is significantly elevated, you should take the result seriously and get more information before continuing to use the water for drinking and cooking. Depending on the contaminant, the appropriate response may include using another water source,  identifying the source of the contamination, or installing treatment.

 

If you are on a public water system, talk to your water utility to see if this is an ongoing problem or if there is a known issue with the system. You should also ask whether the water system has conducted additional testing.

 

If you are on well water, you will want to have a professional inspect your well and well system to determine where the contamination is coming from. Depending on the contaminant, the problem could be related to the well construction, groundwater, the plumbing inside your home, or another source.

 

If the contamination is caused by bacteria, disinfection such as shock chlorination may be part of the solution. Chemical contaminants require different solutions, so you should not assume that shock chlorination will fix every type of contamination.

 

If the source cannot be repaired or eliminated, you may need to talk to a water filtration professional about treatment.

 

Advice When Talking to a Filtration Professional

 

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for water filtration.

 

It is important to base your filtration system on your actual water quality and what you are trying to remove. Find a filtration professional who will base their recommendation on your water quality report rather than simply recommending the same system to everyone.

 

Make sure the system is designed to remove the contaminants that are present in your water at the concentrations they are present.

 

Do not hesitate to talk to several professionals and get multiple quotes for the project. Some filtration professionals only use certain brands or types of filters, while another company may have a system that is a better fit for your situation and budget.

 

You should also ask how often the filter needs to be replaced, how much replacement media or filters cost, and how you will know when the system is no longer working properly.

 

The cheapest system is not always the best option, but you also do not want to pay for treatment you do not actually need.

 

Follow-Up Testing

 

When you have a contamination hit, it is important to continue to monitor your water quality.

 

If you choose not to filter your water, you will want to test on a regular schedule to make sure the contamination does not get worse.

 

If you do have filtration installed, it is worth testing to make sure the filter is working properly. You should then continue testing on a regular basis to make sure the filtration system is still doing its job and that the system does not need to be repaired or maintained.

 

Water quality can change over time. A laboratory report tells you what was present in your water when the sample was collected. Continuing to test your water is the best way to see whether a contamination problem is improving, staying the same, or getting worse.

 

Water Contamination FAQ

 

Is my water safe to drink if a contaminant was detected?

 

Not necessarily, but a contaminant being detected does not automatically mean your water is unsafe to drink. You need to look at what contaminant was detected, the concentration, and how that concentration compares to the applicable EPA drinking water standard. Some contaminants are more concerning than others, and some have health concerns even at very low concentrations.

 

What should I do if my water test shows contamination?

 

Your next steps depend on the contaminant, concentration, and whether you are on public water or a private well. If the contaminant is below the applicable EPA standard, you may simply need to monitor your water and test again later. If it is above a health-based standard, you should investigate the source and consider using another water source while you determine the appropriate solution.

 

For city water, contact your water utility or local health department. For well water, consider having the well inspected to determine where the contamination is coming from. Depending on the contaminant, the solution may involve repairing the well, treating the water, or both.

 

Do I need a water filter if my water test shows contamination?

 

Not necessarily. A water filter should be selected based on the specific contaminants in your water and their concentrations. There is no single filtration system that removes every contaminant.

 

If you are considering filtration, make sure the system is specifically designed to remove the contaminants found in your water at the concentrations present. You should also consider the ongoing cost of filter replacement and maintenance.

 

What does it mean if my water test is below the EPA limit?

 

A result below an EPA drinking water standard generally means the concentration is below the level EPA has established for that contaminant in public drinking water. It does not mean that the contaminant is completely harmless or that there is no contamination in your water. It means the amount detected is below that particular standard.

 

For example, a water test that detects 2 ppb of a contaminant with a 10 ppb EPA standard is showing that the contaminant is present, but at a concentration below that standard. Whether you need to take additional action depends on the contaminant, how close the result is to the standard, how long you may be exposed, and your specific situation.

 

A low-level detection does not automatically mean you need bottled water or a filtration system. In many cases, follow-up testing can help determine whether the contaminant is staying at the same level, increasing, or decreasing.