Why you should care about your water quality
Many of the chemicals found in our water systems may contribute to:
- Dry skin
- Skin irritation
- Hair loss
- Damaged hair
- Dry scalp
- Acne breakouts
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Common tap water contaminants and their limits
EPA legal limits compared with World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values.
| Contaminant | EPA limit | WHO guideline | Common source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 15 µg/L (action level) | 10 µg/L | Old pipes and plumbing |
| Total trihalomethanes (incl. chloroform) | 80 µg/L | Chloroform: 300 µg/L | Chlorine disinfection byproduct |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 60 µg/L | Dichloroacetic acid: 50 µg/L | Chlorine disinfection byproduct |
| Chlorine | 4 mg/L | 5 mg/L | Added disinfectant |
| Arsenic | 10 µg/L | 10 µg/L | Natural deposits, industry |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | 11 mg/L | Fertilizer runoff |
| Copper | 1.3 mg/L (action level) | 2 mg/L | Household plumbing |
| Uranium | 30 µg/L | 30 µg/L | Natural deposits |
| Thallium | 2 µg/L | No guideline | Mining, electronics waste |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | 0.2 µg/L | 0.7 µg/L | Coal-tar pipe linings |
How do chemicals impact our skin and hair?
A look at specific chemicals in our tap water:
- Chlorine
- Can strip natural oils, leaving skin dry and hair brittle
- Chloroform
- A chlorine byproduct linked to skin irritation and redness
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Disinfection byproducts associated with skin irritation
- Thallium
- Exposure is associated with hair loss
- Hard water minerals
- Can leave residue that dulls hair and clogs pores
Sources: water system, violation and lead/copper data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and EPA community water system service area boundaries. Water hardness from utilities' annual water quality reports, or estimated from USGS water quality data where noted. Guideline values from the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. This report is for information only and is not a substitute for testing your own water.