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THE ENVIRONMENTAL Working Group recently released a new online tool that allows users to check the safety of their drinking water. With just a ZIP code, the database delivers information about the contaminants in the water utility serving that region. EWG has also issued a guidebook and a summary of the state of drinking water in America.
Many kitchen sinks across the U.S. pour water with chemicals that may pose health risks. Investigations by the nonprofit EWG found that many water utilities are delivering industrial and agricultural contaminants in every glass of tap water. Whether the amounts of these chemicals are reason for concern is a matter of debate. The levels that federal and state regulatory authorities deem safe do not always match the scientific data on health risks.