Municipal water, including bottled varieties, can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of various contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through soil, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive material, while potentially picking up substances from animal presence or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile compounds, which are byproducts of industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining activities

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons—including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants—may be particularly susceptible to infections. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers. USEPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to reduce infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

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