These reports will tell consumers what contaminants have been detected in their drinking water, how these detection levels compare to drinking water standards, and where their water comes from. The reports must be provided annually before July 1, and, in most cases, are mailed directly to customers homes. Contact your water supplier to get a copy of your report, or see if your report is posted on-line . This report will tell you what contaminants have been found in your drinking water and at what level. EPA does not test individual homes, and cannot recommend specific laboratories to test your drinking water.
States certify water testing laboratories.
You may call your state certification officer to get a list of certified laboratories in your state. For each of these contaminants, EPA sets a legal limit, called a maximum contaminant level , or requires a certain treatment. Water suppliers may not provide water that doesn t meet these standards. Water that meets these standards is safe to drink, although people with severely compromised immune systems and children may have special needs. For a more detailed description, read about how standards are set or about EPA s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water .