Charleston

Water sources for both tap and bottled water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, while also potentially collecting substances from animal presence or human activities.

All water, including bottled varieties, typically contains at least minimal amounts of certain contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For detailed information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Source water may contain several types of contaminants:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants including salts and metals, which can occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from various sources including agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are industrial process byproducts and can come from gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that may occur naturally or result from oil and gas production and mining activities

To ensure tap water safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations similarly set limits for contaminants in bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

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