Water & Wellness · Water education
How to Read Your Water Report
Start with the water supplier, sampling dates, substance names, and units. A result only makes sense in that context.
A community report and a home test answer different questions
A Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) describes your public water system’s source water and reported quality. It is a starting point, not a laboratory test of your own kitchen tap. Plumbing and sampling location can matter.
| Term | Plain-language meaning |
|---|---|
| MCL | Maximum Contaminant Level: an enforceable limit for a regulated substance. |
| MCLG | Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: a health-based goal, not an enforceable limit. |
| AL | Action Level: a threshold that triggers specified water-system actions. |
| TT | Treatment Technique: a required treatment process rather than a concentration limit. |
| ppm / mg/L | Parts per million / milligrams per liter; generally equivalent for dilute water samples. |
| ppb / µg/L | Parts per billion / micrograms per liter. One ppm equals 1,000 ppb. |
| ND | Not detected at the method’s reporting threshold. It does not mean a proven absolute zero. |
| TTHMs / HAA5 | Total trihalomethanes / five haloacetic acids: groups of disinfection byproducts. |
A detection is not automatically an exceedance
Compare matching units and the report’s stated measure. A range, an average, and a percentile are not interchangeable. Read compliance notes rather than treating every individual number as a violation.
When is a home test useful?
Consider certified laboratory testing for concerns specific to your plumbing or property. Private wells need their own testing; EPA recommends annual checks for coliform bacteria, nitrate, TDS, and pH, with additional tests guided by local conditions.
Start the W&W water assessment → Use the results to identify treatment goals and compare verified reductions. The assessment is not a substitute for a household laboratory sample.