Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in the US?
The real answer on US tap water safety, what the EPA does and does not regulate, and when to worry.
The short answer: legally, yes. Practically, it depends.
US municipal water is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Utilities must meet EPA standards for 90+ contaminants and publish annual results. By legal standards, most US tap water is safe. However, "safe" and "optimal" are not the same thing. EPA standards have not been updated for many contaminants in decades. The 2024 PFAS rule was the first new contaminant regulation in 20 years.
Where the gaps are
PFAS: New limits set in 2024 at 4 ppt, but most utilities have not yet achieved compliance. Lead: The EPA action level of 15 ppb is not a health-based standard. There is no safe level of lead. Disinfection byproducts: Regulated, but levels vary widely. Microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFOS precursors: Currently unregulated.
What to do
Check your city for specific data. If you have concerns about any contaminant, a home water test gives you exact numbers for your tap. Point-of-use filtration (reverse osmosis) provides the highest level of protection for drinking water.