What is In Your Tap Water?

Tap water is mostly just water, but it also carries small amounts of:

• Calcium and magnesium (hard water minerals)
• Chlorine or chloramine (used for disinfection)
• Heavy metals like lead or copper (usually from pipes)
• PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
• Microplastics
• Nitrates from agricultural runoff
• Fluoride
• Trace amounts of bacteria or microorganisms

Some of these are added on purpose to keep the water safe, whereas others come from the environment or your plumbing. Most are present at low levels, but what’s actually in your glass can vary more than people expect.

 

Where Your Tap Water Comes From

Tap water in the US typically comes from surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) and groundwater (underground aquifers). 

Before tap water reaches your home, it gets treated to remove harmful contaminants. This usually includes filtration and disinfection using chlorine or chloramine.

Water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, which sets limits for over 90 contaminants in drinking water. 

When it has been treated, water then travels through miles of pipes. Along the way, it can pick up additional substances (especially from older infrastructure). 

So what’s in your tap water is shaped by three things:

• The original water source
• The treatment process
• The plumbing it passes through

What’s Actually In Tap Water 

Calcium And Magnesium

These minerals occur naturally as water moves through rock. They’re not harmful to drink, but they’re the reason for:

• Limescale in kettles and appliances
• Soap that doesn’t lather well
• Dry skin or hair for some people

In many parts of the US, hard water is one of the most noticeable water issues at home. This is where descaling solutions come in;  they don’t “filter” water, but they reduce the impact of these minerals in your home. Find out how to tell if you have hard water in our blog.  

 

Chlorine and Chloramine

Water suppliers add chlorine and chloramine to disinfect water and kill harmful bacteria. Although this is effective, adding these can cause a chemical taste, and for some, a slight odor.

Chloramine is more stable than chlorine, so it’s often used to keep water disinfected over long distances.

 

Lead And Other Metals

Metals usually enter water through pipes rather than the source of water. 

• Lead is the biggest concern, especially in older homes with outdated plumbing
• Copper can leach from pipes over time
• Iron may appear in some areas, affecting taste or color

This is why two homes in the same city can have slightly different water quality.

PFAS

PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in things like non-stick cookware and stain-resistant materials. They’ve been found in water supplies across the US because they don’t break down easily.

A large-scale investigation by Consumer Reports and the Guardian found measurable PFAS in 117 out of 120 tap water samples tested. 

Although you don’t really see or taste PFAS chemicals, they have become a growing concern due to long-term exposure.

 

Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that have been found in both tap and bottled water. They can come from anything from plastic waste breaking down to industrial pollution.

They’re unfortunately becoming increasingly common – in fact, a review of 21 studies found microplastics present in the majority of drinking water samples tested.

Like PFAS, microplastics are not something you’ll notice day to day, but they’re increasingly part of the conversation around water quality. Want to know how to filter microplastics from your tap water? Read our blog: How to Remove Microplastics From Drinking Water. 

 

Nitrates

Nitrates often come from fertilizers used in agriculture. They can enter groundwater and surface water, particularly in farming regions. Nitrate levels are regulated, but they can still vary depending on location.

 

Fluoride

Fluoride is commonly added to public water supplies in the US to help prevent tooth decay.

It’s regulated and widely used, but it’s also one of the most debated additives in tap water –  some people choose to filter it out, while others are comfortable with the levels used.

Bacteria And Microorganisms

Water treatment is designed to remove or kill harmful bacteria and viruses. By the time water reaches your tap, it should be microbiologically safe. However, low levels of harmless microorganisms can remain, and issues can occasionally arise in local plumbing systems. The good news is that water filters can often filter out bacteria.

How To Find Out What’s In Your Water

If you want a clear answer for your specific home, you don’t have to rely on guesswork…

1. Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) – US water suppliers publish these annually. They show exactly what’s been detected in your local water supply.
2. Home water test kits – Useful for checking things like hardness, chlorine, and some metals.
3. What you notice – Taste, smell, and limescale can give clues. For example, a strong chemical smell usually points to chlorine, whereas white buildup suggests hard water.

Is Tap Water Safe To Drink In The US?

In short, yes – tap water is considered safe to drink in the US. Tap water in the US is regulated to limit contaminants and protect public health. The US follows strict standards, and globally, around 98% of people live in areas with formal drinking water regulations (although those standards vary). 

But “safe” doesn’t mean completely free from everything. There can still be: 

• Trace levels of chemicals
• Regional differences in water quality
• Contaminants introduced through household plumbing

For many people, this is tolerable. However, others prefer to filter out any impurities to ensure their drinking water is as clean as possible. This brings us to our next point. 

Do Water Filters Remove Everything?

No – water filters generally do not remove everything. However, it depends on the type of water filter you get, as different types of filters remove different things: 

1. Carbon filters reduce chlorine, improve taste, and remove some chemicals 
2. Reverse osmosis systems remove a wider range of contaminants, including many dissolved solids
3. Water softeners or descalers  specifically target hard water minerals – something filters don't do

Here’s what you can expect different filters to filter out: 

*Descalers work differently from filters. Rather than removing minerals from water, they alter the way minerals behave so they're less likely to build up in pipes and appliances.

Improve Your Tap Water with PIURIFY

If your water tastes off, smells strong, or leaves limescale behind, you’ve got a couple of straightforward options:

• The Alchemy® Electric Water Filter Pitcher to reduce chlorine and certain contaminants

• PIURIFY descalers if hard water is the main issue

The two solve different problems, so it’s often about choosing what matters most in your home. If you’re unsure, start with your local water report. It tells you what you’re dealing with,  and whether you actually need to change anything.