What’s in Your Drinking Water?

What’s in Your Drinking Water? is an authoritative educational article and consumer guide published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The resource provides an in-depth examination of drinking water quality, municipal water infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and common contaminants affecting public tap water supplies. It details the risks associated with major pollutants—including lead from legacy piping, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS / "forever chemicals"), microplastics, agricultural nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and pathogenic microorganisms. The publication breaks down the standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), highlighting systemic gaps in regulatory enforcement and federal oversight. In addition to outlining contamination vectors, the guide offers practical advice on reading Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs), selecting certified home water filtration systems, and advocating for equitable water infrastructure upgrades in vulnerable communities. As a high-value open educational resource, this feature provides essential case studies and public health context for undergraduate and postgraduate students, environmental science researchers, civil engineers, and public health practitioners studying water quality management, environmental regulation, public infrastructure, and environmental justice.