To date, WSU has not detected any of these contaminants in any samples. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals, and in some cases, radioactive material.
Water can also pick up contaminants from animals or from human activity.