10 States With The Worst Water Filtration

45 million Americans drank water from a source that was not compliant with EPA standards. Perhaps it’s because the risk of contamination in tap water has been underestimated by state and local water authorities. Many residents of counties are now faced with toxic contaminants in their drinking water. We’ve put together a list of the states with the worst water filtration and water quality in America. You will find reliable and safe water filtration methods that can be used to improve the quality of your tap water.

What Is Low-quality Water?

A state’s water quality can be affected by many factors. The deplorable state of the water infrastructure is one common cause. A water pipe leak can cause a vacuum within the pipe. The vacuum allows untreated water to enter the pipes and then it combines with the treated. The treated water flows through the pipes and into homes. The water can then flow through your home and faucets, where it can leach lead, copper, or other heavy metals. This can cause dangerous chemicals in your drinking water.

Bad-quality tap water can also be caused by runoff from manufacturing and agriculture plants. This includes the runoff from coal mining and aut0-industry plants that leaked into rivers, streams, lakes, etc. Although chlorine may be added by water authorities to enhance the water’s flavor and smell, it is less safe than people believe.

Who Monitors The Quality Of Tap Water?

To strengthen public health protection from dangerous contaminants in drinking water, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974. The law allows states to establish standards for water quality that are consistent with the EPA. The EPA standards cover water-test scheduling, contaminant levels, and the treatment methods that each state’s water system must use. Each year, SDWA testing is conducted by local water providers in each state. All community water providers must submit a report to residents after the testing is complete.

The US States With The Worst Tap Water

Some states go above and beyond in providing safe drinking water to residents. Others settle for water that is only a minimum of what is necessary for the public to drink. These are the ten worst American states for tap water.

1. Washington

Washington is known for its beautiful landscapes and varied climate. It also has the highest levels of contamination in the US. There are many water contamination risks in Washington. Other than the state’s growing population, which is increasing pollution and putting more pressure on groundwater sources, there are other factors that contribute to its terrible water quality, including low pH, low levels of dissolved oxygen, stormwater runoff, warm temperatures, toxins, and bacteria.

Stormwater runoff is the most serious. This is when rain and snowmelt runoff surfaces like roofs, streets, highways, parking lots, and so forth. Water can collect contaminants such as pesticides and fertilizers, oil, microplastics, and animal waste from these surfaces without proper water filtration. Other contaminants that pollute the state’s water supply include arsenic and uranium as well as radon, radon, radium, and chromium. Some of these contaminants were detected at levels that exceed the safety standards. Some of these contaminants are carcinogens, which can cause cancer. They may also cause developmental problems, reproductive problems, liver damage, and other health issues.

In 2015, unsafe water was served to almost three million Washington residents (or more than 40 percent)

2. California

California is known for its warm vineyards and beautiful sunsets. It also has golden poppies that are found in wildflowers each Spring. California is also plagued by highly contaminated water.

Many rural communities in the state are dependent on water contaminated with arsenic or uranium. The pollution levels are high enough to cause cancer, and other health problems when combined with toxic nitrates and nitrite levels due to agricultural use. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are most at risk.

California’s water system violations were a major problem in 2015. In California, over 832 communities were affected by the SDWA. 2.57 million residents got water from these systems in 2015. California’s low-quality drinking water affects mainly its rural and low-income communities. Even if you are in an urban area, it is best to be cautious about your water quality. California is taking steps, but it could take years to address its water filtration problems.

3. Arizona

Arizona is well-known for its deserts at low elevations, which are covered with cacti or creosote shrubs. The state is located in the west US and suffers from severe water shortages. It grows more scarce each day. Water scarcity isn’t the only problem in the state.

Arizona’s tap water is also among the most hazardous in the country. Recent reports have shown that Phoenix’s tap water contains the highest levels of chromium-6 (a well-known carcinogen) in the US. The state’s water systems are also contaminated by other toxins that can cause cancer or problems in development, such as perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs).

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), further reported that Arizona had committed 2,362 violations to the SDWA in 2015. This meant that over 2.46 million people (36 percent) were contaminated by their water pipes.

4. Florida

Florida offers many reasons to love the state, including the beautiful weather and amazing theme parks. You might need to pack your bags if you want the best water quality.

Two ecological emergencies in Florida in 2018 resulted in Florida’s poor tap water. Two ecological emergencies occurred in Florida in 2018. Red tide microorganisms were introduced to the Gulf of Mexico and blue-green algae flooded into rivers, lakes, and the ocean. The two eco-disasters caused massive damage to marine life and diverted attention from the state’s waterways. Florida was also affected by the freshwater algae blooms, which caused an increase in fertilizer and other contaminants. Floods from hurricanes and storms also led to the release of dangerous contaminants into water systems, further impacting the state’s drinking waters. High levels of coliform bacteria and unsafe levels of lead and copper were found in some areas across Florida.

A staggering 7.5 million Floridians were harmed by water systems that violated the SDWA during the 2015 water contamination scandal.

5. New Jersey

New Jersey is a great place to live, work, and play. You’ll find the best healthcare, education, and industrial facilities in the nation. But, accessing safe and clean water is a different matter.

For years, PFCs and other toxic synthetic chemicals were found in the state’s waterways. These chemicals are useful for their heat, water, and grease resistance. Researchers have found that these chemicals can be deadly.

While companies and manufacturers are working to phase out PFCs from their production lines, these chemicals remain in water systems. These chemicals can cause cancer, liver damage, birth defects, and other health problems. Even worse, one-fifth of New Jersey’s residents drink PFC-tainted water. Lead and chlorine are two other contaminants that have exposed more than half of New Jersey’s residents to unsafe drinking water.

6. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, also known as “The Keystone State”, is home to lush forests and rolling hills. It also boasts millions of acres worth of farmland. The state may appear to be a great place to live with its rich history, vibrant job market, and beautiful scenery. But it has a long history of water pollution.

The main culprit for the state’s water-pollution crisis was coal mining. Recent research revealed that over 20,000 miles of streams in the state don’t meet federal standards for swimming and fishing. Additionally, more than 200,000 abandoned oil and gas wells regularly leak, releasing contaminants into groundwater during heavy rainfall.

Nearly six million Pennsylvanians are not supplied with safe water. Despite the fact that new policies were implemented by state authorities, little has changed in small communities.

7. Georgia

Georgia is the perfect place for anyone looking to enjoy sunny days and unlimited amounts of Vidalia onions and peanuts.

Georgia has some of the worst drinking water in the country. It is due to the contamination of its streams, rivers, and wells. Some areas in the “peach state” have reported levels of chromium and arsenic that are well above legal guidelines. Some water systems also contained trihalomethanes, which are linked to skin cancer and bladder cancer.

8. Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a place where you can experience a colorful colonial world. It has both Spanish and American influences that create a Caribbean cultural paradise. You might be dipping your toes in the white sands and then the next you will likely be drinking contaminants from a water glass.

The island has seen its living conditions change dramatically since 2017’s hurricanes Maria and Irma. The hurricanes caused havoc on the island, causing disruptions in infrastructure and tourism that lasted for several months. The island is still not fully recovered today. Unreliable generators and electrical outages have resulted in a shortage of water. When it does, the water is stained and full of sediment. The government has asked residents to boil water for at least three minutes before using it.

Even before the hurricanes, almost all Puerto Rico’s water supply systems were in violation of safety standards due to nonproper water filtration. The NRDC reported in 2015 that 3.46 million Puerto Rico residents (99.5% of the total population) had unsafe water from their taps.

9. Texas

Texas is also known as “The Lone Star State” and is well-known for its barbecue, live music, high temperatures, and poor water quality.

The state’s most polluted water systems are found in small rural communities, where resources are limited and there are typically around 100 people per provider. Arsenic and lead are the most harmful pollutants that contaminate the water supply. This is partly due to old pipes or contaminants leaching into the waterways.

Surprisingly, 12.07 million Texans have unsafe drinking water. And the situation isn’t improving. According to the most recent reports Texas has the highest radiation levels in drinking water.

10. Ohio

Ohio is America’s largest industrial center, but it also has some of the worst water quality. Large-scale industrial activities in the state have significantly contributed to high levels of lead in tap water. This has caused short shutdowns of schools, businesses, and other institutions. Many Ohioans still drink water that has been contaminated with iron, sulfate, and other mineral compounds.

Like other states, many Texans (2.96 million) were exposed to contaminated water through community systems. This put over 25% of Texas’ population at risk.

Check Your Water Quality At Home

A home water testing kit is a great option for DIY types. These kits may not be as accurate as professional laboratory testing but they can give vital information about your water quality.

Although kits can be purchased from different merchants online and locally, most work in the same way. You can take a test strip and expose it to the water. Note the color that the strip takes. A color chart will be included with the kit that matches different colors to different chemicals.

To ensure consistency, test your water at least two times. Contact your local water provider immediately if any chemical is found in hazardous concentrations.

Here’s What To Do If Your State Has Poor Water Quality

There’s good news! If you live in an area with poor water quality, a high-quality water filter system can dramatically improve the water quality and reduce frustration. Think twice about purchasing bottled water. You can filter your tap water at your home to remove harmful contaminants. This will protect your health, your family’s safety, and extend the life of your plumbing system, pipes, fixtures, appliances, and plumbing systems.

To get a better understanding of possible contaminants in your water, you can use your lab’s test results or your home testing kit. This residential water filter guide will help you select the right water filter for you and your budget once you have identified which contaminants are in your water.

A whole-house water filter is a way to filter water in your shower in your house. If you need drinking water, an under-sink filter such as Paragon Waters Solutions’s wholesale reverse osmosis systems can be a quick and easy way to obtain safe, clean, and healthy water.

It is important to note that even though your state has the best tap water, there may be unseen toxic contaminants in the water. Paragon Waters Solutions’s innovative, reliable, and inexpensive filtration systems can improve the safety and quality of your drinking water. Contact us if you have any questions.

Contact Paragon Water Solutions

Americans have some of the cleanest and safest tap water in the world. Yet, unsafe water is still a problem for millions of people in different states every year. It doesn’t matter if you live in an area with unsafe water, it is important to test the water for contaminants and install a water filter if needed. Paragon Waters Solutions has a wide range of water filtration systems that are reliable, affordable, and cost-friendly. This will ensure your family receives clean, safe water.

Why Choose Us?

If you are looking for the best Water Filter manufacturer then look no further. Paragon Water Solutions has been around for decades and can provide easy solutions to any water problems in your home. There are many products available, including 3 stage reverse osmosis filter system, 4 stage reverse osmosis filter system, RO filter replacement, carbon block water filter, and under sink water filters. Our company is customer-driven and has a passion to save lives from water-borne illnesses. All water products are designed, engineered, assembled, and manufactured in our laboratories. They can be customized to meet your specific needs. If you have problems with your water filtration or if your water is not being cleaned properly, go straight to the water filter manufacturer Paragon Water Solutions, contact us today!