PRESTIGE H2O / WATER, UNDERSTOOD
How to read your utility water quality report
A Consumer Confidence Report describes a community water system's source, detected contaminants and compliance information. Start by confirming that the report belongs to the utility serving your address and note the reporting period. Use it as system-level context; it is not a laboratory result from your own tap.
Confirm the report before reading the numbers
Use your water bill or utility account to identify the supplier. Open the latest applicable report from that supplier or EPA's report finder. A report for a neighboring city can be the wrong starting point even when the addresses are close.
Read the legend beside the results
Keep units, reporting dates and definitions attached to every value you copy. Note any explanation of violations or corrective action. Ask the utility to interpret an unfamiliar entry instead of comparing isolated numbers from different reports.
Make a question sheet
Bring the report and your questions together so the conversation can stay specific.
- Utility name and report year
- Source-water description
- Table entry and units you want explained
- Current notice or utility contact relevant to the question
- Any home-specific test or plumbing information
Decide whether you need a different source of evidence
A report may help frame a question without resolving it at your property. Ask the utility or a qualified laboratory which additional information would answer your specific concern. Private-well owners need evidence for their own supply rather than a neighboring utility's report.
Questions and answers
Is this year's report a test taken at my kitchen tap today?
No. Check the stated reporting period and sampling scope. A utility report and a property-specific sample describe different evidence.
What if I cannot find my report?
Contact the utility shown on your water bill or use EPA's Consumer Confidence Report resources. Confirm the system identity before relying on a result.
Can the report choose a filter for me?
It can provide context. Equipment selection still needs a specific treatment goal and evidence that the proposed model addresses it under the relevant conditions.