Whether you are considering installing a water filtration system in your home or are just curious about the drinking water that flows through your tap, you are likely asking the same question, “Is California tap water safe to drink, and should I find a better alternative?”

So Is California Tap Water Safe? What Authorities Say

Every quarter, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) publishes a report on the safety and chemical contaminants found in drinking water. While most public water systems meet the state’s health and safety standards, our drinking water can often get contaminated with chemicals or bacteria.

These include both natural and human sources that can reduce California’s water quality. Natural sources can be soil, rocks, or the remnants of fires, while human sources include sewage, factories, and farm runoff. For example, arsenic, a contaminant known to cause cancer, is naturally found in some soils and rocks in California. This can lead to groundwater contamination.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Safe Drinking Water Act, all states must follow primary drinking water regulations. The problem is that there is a list of contaminants that may cause minor health problems (e.g., tooth and skin discoloration) and aesthetic effects (e.g., weird water taste or odor), but states don’t mandatorily need to restrict them from their water systems. In other words, these contaminants are not reported or regulated. Therefore, the tap water in California may be more contaminated than we think.

Some of these contaminants are:

• Aluminum
• Chloride
• Copper
• Foaming Agents
• Silver
• Sulfate
• Total Dissolved Solids

Over a long time, these contaminants can have a more pronounced impact on your health, and knowing your alternatives is key.

Not All Drinking Water In California Is Created Equal: the Toxic Taps Crisis

There are about 3,000 Community Water Systems (CWSs) in California (systems that serve a residential population). Furthermore, there are another 5,000 non-community systems that serve places like hospitals, schools, and businesses. In a Public Water System of more than 8,000 units, 300 may not seem like a big number. But it is.

So Is California Tap Water Safe for Consumption?

According to the California State Water Resources Control Board, there are currently more than 300 public water systems in the state that serve unsafe drinking water. In other words, there are more than one million Californians who are exposed to unsafe water as we speak. Public health officials are still struggling to find a state-wide solution to the so-called toxic taps crisis.

So, while the majority of the state offers relatively safe tap water, some regions do not. Therefore, the California water quality is not the same across the community.

Make the Responsible Choice

Having access to clean drinking water is freedom. Freedom from fear, freedom from disease, and freedom to make the responsible choice for your health. PureLux H2O is a water filtration system provider with a simple goal — to help Southern California residents enjoy chemical-free, clean water all day, every day. If you want to stop wondering, “Is California tap water safe to drink?” and worry about its effect on you and your family’s health, let us help! You can reach us at 818-573-5325 for more details about our systems and what we do!