The Environmental Working Group (EWG) issued a report today to the media on drinking water around the country. The report allows individuals to enter their zip code and see a list of contaminants found in their tap water.
It shows that the majority of the nation’s drinking water supplies get a passing grade from federal and state regulatory agencies. However, according to EWG, many of the 250 plus contaminants detected are at levels that are legal under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), but are above levels that the EWG believes pose health risks.
To view the press release from EWG you can either review the attachment or go to their website at: https://www.ewg.org/release/ewg-s-nationwide-tap-water-transparency-report-here-new-database-details-pollutants#.WXi71oTys1K. Either will give you information on EWG and the database website or you can go directly to the database from here: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/#.WXi8ToTys1I.
The EWG researched its information from the water quality results provided by public water suppliers to the state and reported to the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) data base which can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/safe-drinking-water-information-system-sdwis-federal-reporting. If you have any questions please contact the MassDEP’s Drinking Water Program at program.director-DWP@state.ma.us or at 617-292-5770.