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Municipal water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land surfaces or through ground layers, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

Potential contaminants include:
• Microbial contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, industrial wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, or farming activities.
• Pesticides and herbicides: From various sources including agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage.
• Organic chemical contaminants: Including synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants: Naturally-occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining operations.

The USEPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure tap water safety. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection. All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain minimal amounts of certain contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general public. Immunocompromised individuals, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants can be particularly susceptible to infections. These individuals should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. USEPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate methods to reduce infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

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