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The U.S. EPA establishes regulations that limit contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure tap water safety. Similarly, the FDA sets limits for contaminants in bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection. All drinking water, including bottled varieties, naturally contains at least small amounts of certain contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water moves across land or through ground layers, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, sometimes radioactive materials, and substances resulting from animal presence or human activity.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, or wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Naturally-occurring salts and metals or those from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides: From agricultural sources, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, or septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally-occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

For additional information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the U.S. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

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