Drinking Water

Summary

We all need to drink water. How much you need depends on your size, activity level, and the weather where you live.

The water you drink is a combination of surface water and groundwater. Surface water includes rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Groundwater comes from underground. The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world, but drinking water quality can vary from place to place. It depends on the condition of the source water and the treatment it receives. Treatment may include adding fluoride to prevent cavities and chlorine to kill
germs.

Your water supplier must give you annual reports on drinking water. The reports include where your water came from and what contaminants are in it.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Images

• Arsenic and Drinking Water U.S. Geological Survey

Specifics

• Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water Environmental Protection Agency
• Bottled Water Everywhere: Keeping it Safe Food and Drug Administration
• Germs that Can Contaminate Tap Water Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Water on Tap: What You Need to Know Environmental Protection Agency

Related Issues

• Basic Information about Your Drinking Water Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water Environmental Protection Agency
• How EPA Regulates Drinking Water Contaminants Environmental Protection Agency
• Keep Food and Water Safe After a Disaster or Power Outage Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Lead and Drinking Water from Private Wells Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Lead in Drinking Water Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Safety of Bottled Water Beverages Including Flavored Water and Nutrient-Added Water Beverages Food and Drug Administration

Start Here

• Bottled Water Basics Environmental Protection Agency
• Drinking Water Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Healthy Water Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Nutrition and Healthy Eating: How Much Water Should You Drink Each Day? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Water Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Center for Environmental Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Cryptosporidium: A Guide to Water Filters Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Statistics and Research

• Fluoridated Water National Cancer Institute
• Get the Facts: Data and Research on Water Consumption Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Journal Articles

• Drinking Water

Teenagers

• Quiz: Water and Your Health Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Water Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• The Future of Water

Children

• Why Drinking Water Is the Way to Go Nemours Foundation