How Does Your Water Become Contaminated?

When you’re at home drinking a glass of water, do you ever wonder how it got into your hands? Water goes through a long process before making it to your house. Those processes provide ample opportunity for contaminants get into your water. So, where does your water become contaminated?

Sources of Water Contamination

Based on the Environmental Working Group (EWG)‘s research, here are some sources of water contamination:

• Agriculture

Nitrogen, fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer, commercial fertilzer, and manure and can get into our rivers, streams, lakes and groundwater.

• Manufacturing

In 2022, Industries and business “discharged 198 million pounds of chemicals into rivers and streams, according to the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory reporting program” (EWG).

• Military Bases & Airports

Firefighter foam that commonly contained PFAS and was used in military bases and airports. PFAS are commonly known as “forever chemicals” because they are resistant to breaking down. Unfortuately, these resistant chemicals are prevelant in ever U.S. state.

• Naturally Occuring Contamination

Naturally occuring elements, such as metals and radioactive chemicals, can erode into rivers, streams, and groundwater.

• Wastewater and Stormwater Runoff

Wastewater treament facilities can’t filter everything, and many don’t filter contaminants such as “antibiotic-resistant bacteria, PFAS, personal care products and residues from prescription drugs like birth control pills and illegal drugs” found in wastewater (EWG).

• Water Infastructure and Treatment

The corrosion of lead or copper pipes and other U.S. infastructure can contaminate our water supply.

SOURCE

Environmental Working Group (EWG) “EWG’s Tap Water Database: Pollution Sources.” 2019, www.ewg.org/tapwater/sourcesofwaterpollution.php

Published on: 11/13/2025

Last updated on: 11/13/2025