How to Read Your Water Report

Have you ever received a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water utility? A CCR is a federally mandated annual report that every water utility is required to publish. Some utilities may not mail it to every household, but you have the right to access the information as a consumer.

If you are not sure how to read your report, NSF (the public safety and health organization) has an article that may help.  The “What’s In Your Drinking Water” article talks about what information is included in a CCR, and how to use the information.  Generally, the CCR contains an overview, an explanation of abbreviations, and contaminant tables that list which contaminants have been detected in the community water supply. 

The NSF encourages people to use a home water treatment device to address possible contaminants in your water supply. A variety of products exist to treat drinking water, so you will want to do some research to ensure you get a filtration system that meets your specific needs.  “Because residential water treatment products are not federally regulated, it’s important to verify that the system is tested and certified to meet your specific contaminant reduction needs before purchasing,” says the NSF article.