How to find out what’s in your tap water (city supply or private well)

What to do

• City water: find your annual report. Water suppliers must send a Consumer Confidence Report by July 1 each year. Missing yours? Call your supplier or use EPA’s search tool.^1,2
• Look up PFAS results for your system. EPA’s fifth monitoring round (UCMR 5) tested for 29 PFAS from 2023 through 2025, and EPA says it released the final dataset in August 2026. Search it with the UCMR 5 Data Finder.^3,4
• Know who got tested. That round covered all systems serving 3,300 or more people plus a random sample of 800 smaller ones, so a small system might have no results.³ Ask your supplier whether it has PFAS data.
• Use the EWG database as a lookup, not a verdict. It’s free and compiles state-reported test results. EWG is an advocacy nonprofit, and the database compares results with EWG’s own health-based standards as well as legal limits.⁵
• Private well? Test it. EPA says to test every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, and test for other contaminants if you suspect them. Use only a lab certified for drinking water. Your local health department may test for free.^6,7
• Ask about PFAS for your well. It isn’t among the four routine yearly tests EPA lists, so ask your state or local health department whether PFAS testing makes sense where you live.⁶
• Compare your results to the right number, then decide on a filter. EPA says a filter may not be useful if PFAS aren’t measured or are below federal limits.¹³ If you do need one, see our water filter guide.

Reading your annual water report

EPA says the report covers where your water comes from, a summary of contamination risk for the source, the regulated contaminants found, potential health effects of anything detected in violation of an EPA health standard, and phone numbers for more information.¹ Community water systems must also include UCMR results in the report when a contaminant is measured at or above the minimum reporting level. The report shows the average and range for the prior year’s monitoring.³ For the full results, use the UCMR 5 Data Finder.⁴

PFAS data and the rules

Here’s where things stand as of October 30, 2026.

• The 2024 limits. EPA’s 2024 rule set limits of 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) each for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX), and a Hazard Index for mixtures. Water systems have until 2027 to finish initial monitoring and must then inform the public. EPA lists 2029 as the compliance date.⁸
• A proposed extension. In May 2026, EPA proposed letting systems that request it take until April 26, 2031 to comply with the PFOA and PFOS limits. The comment period closed July 20, 2026.^9,11
• A proposed rollback. EPA also proposed rescinding the limits for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and the Hazard Index. The Federal Register notice says this does not affect the PFOA and PFOS limits.^10,12
• Status. The EPA pages we read describe both actions as proposals. We haven’t seen a final rule. Check the EPA pages again before you rely on any of this.^9,10

See the evidence: what the EPA and Federal Register pages say

EPA’s PFAS drinking water page lists the 2024 limits and says systems have three years, by 2027, to complete initial monitoring and must then provide the public with information, with compliance by 2029. It carries a note about EPA’s intent to rescind four of them.⁸ EPA’s extension page says the proposal gives systems an option to request two more years, to 2031, and that the comment period closed on July 20, 2026.⁹ The Federal Register proposal would extend PFOA and PFOS compliance from April 26, 2029 to April 26, 2031 for systems that request it.¹¹ The rescission proposal covers four PFAS provisions and, per the Federal Register, does not impact the PFOA and PFOS limits.^10,12 EPA says that once final action is taken, it will evaluate additional PFAS for future regulation and that the result could be more stringent requirements.¹⁰

Using the EWG database

EWG’s Tap Water Database covers nearly 50,000 community water systems. It draws on test results that water systems reported for 2021 to 2023 and shows how they compare with federal legal limits and with EWG’s own health-based standards.⁵ EWG’s standards are not legal limits. EWG also says the data come from many sources and it can’t guarantee accuracy. It doesn’t include private wells.⁵ Treat it as a starting point and check your supplier’s report.

Private wells

Federal rules don’t require private wells to be tested, so it’s up to you.⁵ EPA recommends yearly tests for coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, plus tests for other contaminants if you suspect them. It also says to test right away after flooding, nearby construction or a change in taste, color or odor.⁶ Use a laboratory certified for drinking water testing. EPA points to your state’s certified lab program and says your local health department might test for free.^6,7 For PFAS, ask the lab or your health department which test to order, and ask for results in parts per trillion so you can compare them with the limits above. Consumer Reports names two mail-in PFAS kits that did well in its tests. It also notes that PFAS testing isn’t cheap, with prices of $85 and $299 for those two.¹⁴

What we don’t know

• Whether the two May 2026 proposals will be finalized, and in what form.
• Whether your small system or well has PFAS. The monitoring we describe didn’t cover every small system.
• How EWG’s health-based standards will compare with any final federal limits. They’re separate benchmarks.
• How a mail-in kit compares with a certified lab. We haven’t tested kits, and we’re only relaying what Consumer Reports says.

Next: the water filter guide, how to read a certification and the microplastics guide.