In the USA, is it safe to drink water directly from the tap or must it be boiled first?

Answer 1

Yes, you can drink the water, and it's safer then most other countries, but some areas have high concentrations of chlorine in their supply (more in fact then a public swimming pool). I also question the affects of fluoride added to the drinking supply, but that's only for long term usage.

Answer 2

Hypothetically, tap water should be safe. But, increased levels of bacteria, such as e coli from wild and domesticated fecal runoff occurs, usually in hot months, and chemicals/pollutants are oftentimes in the water at supposedly '"acceptable" levels, such as arsenic and cyanide in mining areas. Every community must routinely test and report it's water contamination and make adjustments as necessary. The "integrity" of those adjustments, though, is only as honorable as are the people leading a community, of course. The report is public, released once a year and can be obtained through municipal water utilities. It's scary, though, to read a water report for the year. Troubles rise and fall all the time. But, I also have concerns about bottled water in those dangerous plastic bottles. The brain damaging and carcinogenic chemicals in that plastic do leach out into the product. Glass bottles are completely safe. Honestly? I am an RN and I boil tap water these days. But, then again, I've seen a lot of disease and I'm perhaps a little weird about it.

Answer 3

In the U.S. tap water should be safe for drinking unless it comes from some kind of contaminated well. Whenever the city water supply is compromised, the advice is always to boil the water for a certain amount of time before drinking. Boiling will 'kill the germs' in the water. Filters and softeners will take out the minerals and other contaminants in the water. Traditional softeners add sodium to the water. Filters do not. Do not depend on filters and softeners whenever the water supply has been compromised by a break in the water main, for example. In that kind of situation always boil your water. Otherwise, filtering, softening, boiling, etc...It's the drinker's choice!

Answer 4

Water In The Usa

Answer 5

It is safe to drink directly from the tap, but in some places the water tastes kind of wierd. In such places I always boil the water. In places where tap water tastes fresh and good, I don't boil it.

Answer 6

Its safe to drink water from the tap in the U.S. but most people buy purified bottled water or put a purifier on their tap...in some places the water just tastes bad.

Answer 7

While most Americans drink bottled water these days, our tap water is safe to drink in most cities.

Answer 8

Since the water in the "USA" isn't controlled by a federal agency, that would depend on the local conditions.
But, mostly, just from the tap is drinkable and safe.

Answer 9

Everyplace is different but for the most part Id say 99 percent of the tap water here is good to drink.

Answer 10

we are a clean society and we have laws on anything to do with health so you can drink water out of the tap. the only time you cant is when there is a sign that says "non potable water" if you are at a home or a hotel its safe to drink if you are at a camp site they are required to have signs so if they dont have signs then its safe to drink.