LISLE, IL, AUG 1, 2017 -- The Water Quality Association supports the Environmental Working Group's newly released Tap Water Database as a way for consumers to learn more about the kinds of contaminants that might be in their local drinking water.
"It's important for consumers to know what's in their drinking water," said WQA Government Affairs Director David Loveday. "This new tool from EWG will help homeowners across the country determine whether they should consider having their water tested and whether they need some form of water treatment."
The database contains the results of tests from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from nearly 50,000 utilities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 2010 to 2015. Consumers can enter their zip code to learn more about the quality of their local drinking water.
The EPA requires nearly all community water systems to issue a Consumer Confidence Report every year by July 1st, but according to a recent national studyconducted for WQA, 62 percent of households across the United States either didn't read or don't know if they received their community's CCR. That's up from 56 percent in a 2015 survey.
Residents should have their drinking water tested through a certified water-testing laboratory. Homeowners can check with the Water Quality Association at http://www.wqa.org to find a water quality professional or connect with a certified testing lab through the USEPA (http://water.epa.gov/scitech/drinkingwater/labcert/statecertification.cfm).
About WQA
WQA is a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. Since 1959, the WQA Gold Seal certification program has been certifying products that contribute to the safe consumption of water. The WQA Gold Seal program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
