Each year, by July 1, thanks to the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act, water agencies provide a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) also known as an Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. These reports provide customers a general overview of the water quality for the preceding calendar year. Keep your eye out for a notification from your water provider regarding this year’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.
How do tap water and bottled water regulations compare?
Tap water from public water systems is regulated by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act. However bottled water is regulated as a food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Unlike EPA and water agencies, the FDA does not require bottled water companies to use certified laboratories for water quality testing or to report test results. The FDA does require bottled water labels to list ingredients and nutritional information.
