Is tap water safe to drink? Here’s what you really need to know.
Most U.S. residents don’t need to worry about the safety of their tap water, but millions of Americans are still exposed to contaminants every year. It can take a water crisis to highlight where drinking water infrastructure is failing. One of the most devastating water crises in recent memory was the lead contamination in Flint, Michigan’s drinking water in 2014. As of January 2023, nine years after the initial contamination, residents are still dealing with the effects. And last year, a water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi left many of the city’s 150,000 residents without potable water, a problem that persists today. Here, drinking water experts from the EPA, academia, and advocacy groups weigh in on what you need to know about your tap.