Summarizing Water Quality for Customers: Consumer Confidence Reports
The more that you know about the treated water, the easier it will be for you to decide whether you can feel confident drinking it. One way to learn about local drinking water quality is through an annual water quality report known formally as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The EPA requires that all community water suppliers provide CCRs to their customers each year by the 1st of July. If you haven’t received or no longer have the most recent CCR for your community, ask your water utility manager if they would be willing to provide a copy
Consumer Confidence Reports are summaries of local water quality. They provide information on where the local drinking water comes from, the levels of contaminants found in the water, how those levels compare to the safe levels determined by the EPA and if there are any violations to EPA safe level standards. Although it can be nerve racking to share violations with customers, this honesty is a demonstration of transparency that fosters trust and lets customers know the possible impact of violations and that the violations have been or are being addressed. Check out the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s Guide to Understanding Your CCR for more information. Scroll to the bottom to view the sections of a sample CCR and tips on how to read and understand them.
If you still have questions about CCRs, contact the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 for additional support.
Consumer Confidence Reports are summaries of local water quality. They provide information on where the local drinking water comes from, the levels of contaminants found in the water, how those levels compare to the safe levels determined by the EPA and if there are any violations to EPA safe level standards. Although it can be nerve racking to share violations with customers, this honesty is a demonstration of transparency that fosters trust and lets customers know the possible impact of violations and that the violations have been or are being addressed. Check out the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s Guide to Understanding Your CCR for more information. Scroll to the bottom to view the sections of a sample CCR and tips on how to read and understand them.
If you still have questions about CCRs, contact the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 for additional support.