Resources
Resources
The best resources for clean water at home, ranked by usefulness. Each entry includes the web address, contact, a summary of what it offers, and our take on why it matters.
#1
EPA — Ground Water & Drinking Water
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water
Contact: epa.gov/home/forms/contact-epa
The federal standards for safe drinking water, contaminant limits, and how to read your utility’s annual report.
Start here for what “safe” legally means — then test to see how your own tap actually measures up.
#2
NSF International
https://www.nsf.org
Contact: info@nsf.org
Independent certification for water-treatment products. NSF/ANSI standards tell you exactly what a filter is proven to remove.
Before you buy, check the NSF certification number. “Reduces lead” means little without the standard behind it.
#3
Water Quality Association
https://wqa.org
Contact: info@wqa.org
The water-treatment industry’s trade body, with a product-certification database and plain-language explainers on contaminants.
Useful for cross-checking certifications and finding a certified local installer.
#4
CDC — Healthy Water
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater
Contact: cdc.gov/cdc-info
Public-health guidance on drinking water, private wells, and emergency disinfection — including step-by-step boil and bleach ratios.
The clearest source for what to do when water safety is in doubt. Bookmark the well-water and emergency pages.
#5
Consumer Reports — Water Filters
https://www.consumerreports.org
Contact: consumerreports.org/cro/customerservice
Independent, lab-tested reviews of pitcher, under-sink, and whole-house filters — no advertiser influence.
One of the few places where filter rankings aren’t pay-to-play. Worth the subscription before a major purchase.
Know a resource we missed? Suggest it. We review and add quality resources regularly.