Which Contaminants Should You Actually Worry About in Drinking Water?

Understanding the Big Picture There are hundreds of potential substances that can show up in drinking water, but only a small portion are consistently associated with health risks or are regulated by the EPA. Others may affect taste, smell, or color — which might not be dangerous, but can still be unpleasant.

Contaminants Worth Paying Attention To Here are some of the most common and concerning contaminants we recommend looking out for:

1. Lead
   Often leaches from old pipes and fixtures. Even small amounts can be harmful, especially to children and pregnant individuals.
2. PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)
   Synthetic chemicals that don’t break down easily and have been linked to hormone disruption, immune system effects, and cancer.
3. Chlorine & Chloramine
   Used as disinfectants in municipal water, but can cause skin and respiratory irritation and affect taste and smell.
4. Fluoride
   Commonly added to water for dental health, but some choose to reduce it due to personal or health concerns. It’s not universally considered harmful but is a common reason people seek filtration.
5. Nitrates/Nitrites
   Often found in agricultural areas or well water. Can be dangerous at high levels, especially for infants.
6. Arsenic
   Naturally occurring in some groundwater supplies. Long-term exposure can lead to skin issues, organ damage, and increased cancer risk.
7. Bacteria & Microorganisms
   More common in well water or emergency situations. These can cause immediate health effects and should be addressed with proper filtration or UV treatment.

Aesthetic but Less Harmful Issues These don’t usually pose a health risk but may make you want to improve your water:

• Hard water (calcium and magnesium)
• Iron or sulfur (which may cause metallic taste or odor)
• Sediment or turbidity (cloudiness in water)

How to Know What You’re Dealing With If you’re on city water, your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or the EWG Tapwater Database is a good place to start. For well water, a lab-based test like Tap Score is your best bet.

What to Do About It At Greenfield Water Solutions, we focus on natural, effective methods that reduce the most relevant contaminants — without removing beneficial minerals. Our PureSync system, for example, uses a multi-stage approach to address heavy metals, chlorine, PFAS, fluoride, pesticides, and more.

Not sure what you need? We’re here to help you figure it out. Clean water shouldn’t be complicated.