Erika Crespo For most of us, turning on the tap for a glass of water is a daily habit we don’t think twice about. We trust that the water flowing into our homes is clean and safe.
However, the reality is more complex. Even after treatment, water can pick up a host of tap water contaminants on its journey to your faucet. Industrial pollutants like PFAS (“forever chemicals”), heavy metals from aging pipes, agricultural runoff, and even the byproducts from the disinfection process itself are found in municipal water systems across the country. Many of these contaminants are linked to serious health concerns, including hormone disruption, increased inflammation, and a higher cancer risk.
Understanding what’s in your water is the first step toward protecting your health. We break down the most common contaminants—and the steps you can take to filter your drinking water—in our visual guide below.
See more in our infographic:
