By Michael vivar
Indoor tap water with health and safety controls regulated by government agencies became more prevalent in the United States during the late 1800s.
This was nothing short of a miracle. For most of human history, betting on the cleanliness of water has had worse odds than flipping a coin.
The most devastating health epidemics in history such as cholera, typhoid and polio were caused by water-borne contamination.
A huge step forward in public safety was the passage of The Clean Water Act in 1972. It required minimum sanitation standards for sources of water that flow through residential taps.
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency sets general federal standards for drinking water quality.
Practical enforcement is left to state and municipal authorities. This can result in varying standards for the safety of tap water.
A prominent example was in Flint, MI. A combination of government negligence and economic decline prevented old lead pipes from being replaced.
Lax regulation on the fracking industry in states such as Texas and Pennsylvania led to tap water that was flammable.
Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and draughts can compromise the safety of tap water.
A reason trust in tap water safety has become increasingly important is the accumulating pollution from single-use plastic bottles.
For a country of its size, the quality and safety of US tap water ranks among the best in the world.
As with anything to do with safety, it's important to be aware of news affecting water status and updates from local authorities.
"I think people will realize that water quality standards in most municipalities are as good or better for the stuff coming out of the tap than bottled water companies." ~ Philippe Cousteau Jr.
It's vital you are able to trust the safety of your tap water.