Every community water system in the United States is required by the EPA to publish an annual water quality report, formally called a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). This document summarizes what is in your drinking water, where it comes from, and how it compares to federal and state standards.
Your utility must deliver or make available this report by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year's data. Most utilities now publish CCRs online. If you have not received yours, check your utility's website or contact them directly. You can also search by zip code on the EPA's CCR finder at epa.gov/ccr.
Check your water quality to see contamination data for your area alongside your utility's report.
There are several ways to locate your CCR:
A typical CCR contains several sections. Here is what each one tells you.
This section describes where your water comes from: surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs), groundwater (wells, aquifers), or a blend of both. It may also include a source water assessment that identifies potential contamination risks in the watershed or aquifer area.
Why it matters: surface water sources are generally more vulnerable to agricultural and industrial runoff. Groundwater sources can be more susceptible to naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic and radon.
This is the most important section. It lists every regulated contaminant detected during testing, typically organized in a table with these columns:
This distinction trips up many readers. The MCL is the legal limit, the number your utility must stay below. The MCLG is the health-based target, often set lower. For example:
One ppb is 1,000 times smaller than one ppm. One ppt is 1,000 times smaller than one ppb.
When reviewing your CCR, pay particular attention to these items:
If the "Violation" column shows "Yes" for any contaminant, your utility has exceeded the legal limit. The report should include information about what the utility is doing to address the violation and any health advisories.
Even without a formal violation, levels close to the MCL deserve attention. Water quality fluctuates, and a contaminant at 80% of its MCL today could exceed it next quarter.
Under the 2024 EPA rule, PFOA and PFOS each have MCLs of 4 ppt. PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and PFBS are regulated under a combined hazard index with an effective threshold of 10 ppt. Many CCRs are now beginning to include PFAS data, though full compliance monitoring is being phased in through 2029.
These are regulated under the Lead and Copper Rule, which uses an "action level" system rather than a traditional MCL. If more than 10% of sampled homes exceed 15 ppb for lead or 1.3 ppm for copper, the utility must take corrective action. Your CCR will show the 90th percentile value.
When utilities use chlorine to disinfect water, it reacts with organic matter to form byproducts like trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). These are regulated at 80 ppb and 60 ppb respectively. Long-term exposure is associated with increased cancer risk.
Some CCRs include data on unregulated contaminants monitored under the EPA's UCMR (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule). These substances do not yet have MCLs but are being studied. This is how PFAS data first appeared in public reports before formal regulation.
Your CCR has limitations. It reflects water quality at the utility level, not at your specific tap. Several factors can change water quality between the treatment plant and your faucet:
If you have concerns about your specific tap water, independent testing is the best way to fill the gap.
Check your water now. Enter your zip code at KnowYourExposure.com to see what contaminants have been detected in your local water supply, including PFAS, lead, and other regulated compounds.