Right to Know Laws Yield Consumer Confidence Reports

Right-to-know laws have profound effects on workplace and community safety. The more people know about the risks they face on the job, or in their homes, the more active they become in minimizing their exposure to those risks. Annual consumer confidence reports from public water systems are expected to have a similar effect. These reports must include:

• The source of drinking water, such as lake, river or aquifer.
• A summary of the source water assessment and where and how the full results may be obtained (if a source water assessment has been completed).
• The level of any contaminant found in the drinking water and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) health-based standard (maximum contaminant level) for that particular contaminant.
• The likely source of any contaminant.
• Potential health effects of any contaminant that exceeds the EPA health-based standard and a summary of actions taken to restore safe drinking water.
• Educational information on nitrate, arsenic or lead if these contaminants are detected above 50 percent of the EPA standard.
• Educational information about Cryptosporidium.
• The water system's record of compliance with drinking water regulations.
  

For a complete list of EPA standards for drinking water, contact the EPA or your state health department.