Your Public Water Has Risks
contaminants in public water are labeled safe but still have health risks.
Source: Environmental Working Group, State of American Drinking Water, 2019
%
of the total cancer risks associated with exposure to the byproducts of chlorinated water (TTHM, HAA5) are from inhalation.
Why HealthyTap?
HealthyTap was created to provide homeowners who receive water from Public Water Systems (PWS) another option for protecting water at the endpoint in their homes—at the tap.
Drinking water that meets current USEPA regulatory standards may still present risks to your health or your home’s infrastructure. So while the water may be safe, it’s not necessarily healthy.
Even if public water utilities could remove all traces of contamination, contaminants could be reintroduced as the drinking water travels through aging infrastructure to your home.
We believe you and your family deserve healthy water. This is the reason we’re obsessed with the water-health connection and providing all the information you need to protect your family’s health and quality of life.
Why Healthy Water is So Important
Toxins in water can be overwhelmingly devastating for our immune systems and quality of life, especially since we need to continuously replenish water in our bodies every day. Many contaminants are colorless, odorless and tasteless, which means that we can be exposed to them over long periods of time without ever knowing it until a serious health issue arises.
Health risks associated with contaminated water are not only related to ingesting the water, but also to the inhalation and absorption of harmful chemicals when bathing or showering.
A healthy lifestyle requires healthy water!
What is Healthy Water?
Quite simply, “Healthy water does not adversely impact your family’s health.” But who determines what is a risk and what is not? The challenge is that the research on water contaminants is constantly evolving as scientists continue to learn more about their impacts on the human body.
Limits to levels of contaminants that are legally allowed in public drinking water are set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). However, these limits are based on “maximizing health risk reduction benefits at a cost that is justified by the benefits.” In other words, when setting the limits, the USEPA must weigh the costs associated with removing contaminants from an entire community with the potential health benefits.
Individual state environmental agencies may also set lower limits, if they feel they have the scientific and cost justification to do so. As a result, many states review the science and set allowable limits lower than the USEPA.
One of our missions at HealthyTap is to provide the tools to help consumers interpret water results and how the quality impacts their health. Our proprietary model used to rate public water systems is based on the current science and looks at water quality from the consumer’s perspective, rather than from a public utility perspective. This process provides you with a choice: to remain with water that is safe with risks, or to choose a healthy water option that your family deserves.
We compare the water coming from your utility (using their test data) against what we have researched using many different state regulations, public health agency guidelines, and scientific papers to determine what truly is healthy water — water with no known health risks.
Safe vs. Healthy
The USEPA takes a two-step approach in setting drinking water standards for the public. First, they set a Maximum Allowable Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG). A MCLG (Public Health Goal) is a level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known risk to human health. MCLGs are non-enforceable guidelines and a target for municipalities to strive to meet.
Second, they set a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) which is an enforceable legal standard by which public water utilities are required to comply. The MCL is set as close to the MCLG as feasible, taking cost and benefits into consideration.
The USEPA takes a two-step approach in setting drinking water standards for the public. First, they set a Maximum Allowable Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG). A MCLG (Public Health Goal) is a level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known risk to human health. MCLGs are non-enforceable guidelines and a target for municipalities to strive to meet.
Second, they set a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) which is an enforceable legal standard by which public water utilities are required to comply. The MCL is set as close to the MCLG as feasible, taking cost and benefits into consideration.
However, there are risks between the MCL and the MCLG levels. For many people, this level of risk is unknown. This is why most public water falls under the category of Safe With Risks.
Absorbing, ingesting, or inhaling water with contaminants may affect your health. The challenge for public water users is trying to understand this risk, because every contaminant affects a person’s body differently. Are you an elderly person? A woman who is pregnant? A child? Or someone with a weakened immune system? Public Water Utilities are focused on not exceeding the MCL level rather than being below the MCLG mainly due to costs for filtration and treatment technologies.
Select your town and get your rating:
Data is for Massachusetts homeowners at this time. Residential Water Score (RWS) is created using drinking water protection models developed by SafeWell Corporation. Data is based on testing data from January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022 published to Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Data Portal by Community Water Systems in Massachusetts. Averages of each contaminant test were used in calculating scores. Your actual finished water may vary based on your proximity to the treatment facility and your home infrastructure. For the highest accuracy, it’s advised you test the water at your tap. Research on water contaminants is constantly evolving as scientists continue to learn more about their impacts on the human body. The Health Goals provided in our report represent the most up-to-date scientific findings and health advisories to provide you with a choice of healthy water.
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Summary of Findings
X district(s) service your town.
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Overview
Residential Water Score
The Residential Water Score(RWS) represents the impact of your water quality on your family's health and your home's infrastructure.
Learn why your water received this score and how you can improve it and your water quality in the following sections.
Water Quality
Family Health Risk
Based on harmful contaminants identified in your drinking water.
Low
Impact on Your Home
Based on infrastructure-damaging characteristics in your water.
High
Impact on Perceived Home Value
Based on combined Family Health Risk and Impact on Your Home
Negative
Family Health Risk
Harmful contaminants identified in the drinking water
No harmful contaminants that affect your family’s health were found.
| Result: | 0.010 mg/L |
| Limit: | 0.015 mg/L |
| Health Goal: | 0.005 mg/L |
- List of stuff
Unknown Risks and Impacts
This Residential Water Score is based on average annual water quality data reported by your Public Water Supply(PWS); however, based on historical water quality results, this PWS may not be required to test all contaminants regularly. As a result, the full extent of health risks or home impacts of this water are unknown at this time. Additional testing may be warranted.
Your Water Quality Specialist/Solutions Manager can evaluate further testing needs, if any, to ensure all water quality issues are evaluated before making any specific recommendations on treatment options.
Home Impact
Contaminants that affect your home’s infrastructure
No contaminants that significantly affect your home were found
Impact on Perceived Home Value
How will the results impact your home’s perceived value?
Impact on Perceived Home Value levels (rated Positive, Neutral or Negative) is based on a combination of the Family Health Risk and Infrastructure Impact Scores.
Positive — There is a low risk that water quality might adversely impact family health or damage a home’s infrastructure. Homes with healthy water quality sell for more, and they sell faster.
Neutral — Some issues in the water may impact a family’s health or damage a home’s infrastructure. Water quality is always a deciding factor for home buyers. A neutral score means water may not affect the value of the home in a positive or negative way.
Negative — Family health risk or infrastructure impacts are high (or both) which can lead to a lower perceived value and more difficulty selling a home.
Options for Healthy Water
Best: Whole House Treatment Solutions
Backwashing Carbon Filtration System
Granular activated carbon/GAC Carbon-based filtration system traps organic chemicals (VOCs and SOCs), municipal water treatment disinfection byproducts (THMs and HAA5), PFAS and pesticides through filters made of organic materials such as coal or coconut fibers. System has smart backwashing valve to extend the life of the carbon media.
Arsenic Removal System
Arsenic removal systems use a highly effective granular adsorbent that removes arsenic III & V, and a wide variety of heavy metals. The media technology utilizes a Titanium compound to adsorb both forms of arsenic as well as a wide range of contaminants in water.
Water Softener System
Water softener systems remove and replace hard water minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron and manganese with sodium or potassium through an ion exchange process. Scale, clogs, stains and spotting are eliminated, and appliances operate more efficiently and last longer, saving you money. Brine tank requires periodic addition of salt.
Nitrate Removal System
Nitrate removal systems operate much like water softeners but use a negative-ion-exchange technology. With this type of system, chlorides are exchanged for the nitrate, and the high nitrate waste is backwashed out of the system. Similar to a water softener, salt is added to a brine tank, and the nitrate resin is regenerated automatically using a brine solution.
Better: Point-of-Use Reverse Osmosis Treatment
4-Stage Reverse Osmosis Filtration System
Multi-stage reverse osmosis filtration systems remove any molecule larger than H2O, including municipal water treatment byproducts (THMs and HAA5), PFAS, Arsenic and Nitrates and other harmful contaminants. Foul tastes and odors are also eliminated. RO systems are compact, easy to maintain, and are typically installed at the kitchen sink.
Good: Point-of-Use Carbon Block Treatment
Carbon Block under Sink Filtration System
Single-stage carbon Block filtration system to remove any molecule larger than 0.2 microns, including municipal water treatment byproducts (THMs and HAA5), PFAS and other harmful contaminants. System has water volume meter with audible alerts to remind when filter needs changing. System is compact, easy to maintain, and are typically installed at the kitchen sink.
Keys to Interpreting the Report
Overview
Residential Water Score
The Residential Water Score (RWS) represents the impact of your water quality on your family’s health and your home’s infrastructure.
Learn why your water received this score and how you can improve it and your water quality in the following sections.
Water Quality
Family Health Risk
Based on harmful contaminants identified in your drinking water.
Low
Impact on Your Home
Based on infrastructure-damaging characteristics in your water.
High
Impact on Perceived Home Value
Based on combined Family Health Risk and Impact on Your Home
Negative
The RWS simplifies the complex task of evaluating the overall water quality of a water system, to clearly convey the impact of your water’s quality on your family’s health, your home’s infrastructure and the perceived value of your home.
The Five Components
The overall Residential Water Score (A, B, C, D) represents the impact of your water quality on your family’s health and your home’s infrastructure.
The Water Quality gauge further illustrates our assessment of whether your water quality is Healthy, Safe with Risk, or Unhealthy.
Family Health Risk (Low, Medium or High) is based on water quality parameters that represent potential health risks (e.g., arsenic).
Impact on Your Home (Low, Medium or High) is based on concerns identified in our visual and physical inspection, as well as water quality parameters that represent potential infrastructure impacts (e.g., hardness).
Impact on Perceived Home Value (Positive, Neutral or Negative) is based on a combination of the Family Health Risk and Impact on Your Home scores.