Water Quality Reports

Kezia Snipe  |  Hydroviv Research Analyst
**Updated June 18, 2021 to include current data

Our Water Nerds have updated our report of Kansas City drinking water to include current data. Our Water Nerds analyze water quality test data from KC Water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. Our team then cross references these data with toxicity studies in scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we offer in Kansas City are optimized with this research data in mind.

Source Of Kansas City Drinking Water

Kansas City gets its drinking water from the Missouri River.

Lead In Kansas City Drinking Water

Lead enters Kansas City tap water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures put in place by the municipality fail (like what recently happened in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into drinking water and can reach dangerous levels. Currently, 10% of samples analyzed for lead in KC's water are over 2.1 parts per billion. Though Kansas City's water quality is in compliance with federal regulations, EPA, CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics all acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead, and federal regulations do not take into account levels measured at an individual tap. Homes built before 1986 are particularly susceptible to high lead levels.

Extremely High Levels Of Chromium 6 In Kansas City Drinking Water

Chromium 6 (also known as hexavalent chromium) is a highly toxic metal and known human carcinogen, that is not regulated by the EPA. In recent years, the chormium 6 levels in Kansas City tap water averaged 2530 parts per trillion. For the sake of perspective, these levels are 125 times HIGHER than the concentration determined to have negligible impact on cancer risk. If you live in Kansas City, we highly recommend purchasing a filter that is rated to remove chromium 6, even if it's not one we sell.

Still Have Questions About Kansas City Drinking Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each customer's water. The contaminants that we list above are what we consider to be major “points of emphasis” that we use to build water filters that are built specifically for Kansas City, but all of our our filters provide broad protection against a wide range of contaminants (including lead).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Kansas City tap water, or just have questions about water quality in general, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook. We pride ourselves in being a reputable source of information on water quality, and your questions will be answered by scientists, not salespeople (we don't have any salespeople).

Please Share This Kansas City Water Quality Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

**Updated June 11, 2021 to include most recent data
Emma Schultz, M.S. | Scientific Contributor

Our Water Nerds have updated our analysis of Durham, North Carolina drinking water to include the most updated data. Our team has aggregated water quality test data from the City of Durham Department of Water Management, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference these data with toxicity studies in the scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we sell in Durham are optimized with these issues in mind.

Source Of Durham Drinking Water

Durham gets its drinking water from surface water sources. The two primary sources are Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir. Supplementary water is supplied by Jordan Lake and Teer Quarry. The two treatment plants in Durham are the Williams Water Treatment Plant and the Brown Water Treatment Plant.

PFAS In Durham Drinking Water

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS are a category of chemicals found in various non-stick/stain resistant products, as well as fire fighting foam. PFAS are considered to be "emerging contaminants" because they are not currently regulated by EPA, but are known to be toxic, carcinogenic, and persistent in the environment. High levels of PFAS have been detected throughout the entire state of North Carolina, specifically in Durham. Most municipalities don't test for or remove PFAS from tap water, and most water filters are not designed to remove PFAS. A recent study by Duke University and NC State University revealed elevated levels in of a variety of PFAS compounds in Durham tap water. 

Lead In Durham Drinking Water

Lead enters Durham drinking water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures fail (such as in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into drinking water and reaches toxic levels. Recent analysis for lead in Durham tap water found 90th percentile concentrations of .003 parts per billion. Although the Action Level for lead is 15 ppb, both the EPA and CDC recognize that there is no such thing safe levels of lead. Of course, federal regulations cannot take into account levels measured at an individual tap.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Durham Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants formed when chlorine-based disinfectants combine with naturally-occurring organic matter. While these chemicals are not well regulated, the EPA has explicitly stated that they are linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems. Both regulated types of DBPs (total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids 5) are elevated in Durham drinking water. 

Use Of Chloramine In Durham Tap Water

While many cities use chlorine as their primary disinfectant, Durham’s water is disinfected with chloramine, made by combining chlorine and ammonia. Chloramine is the frequent culprit when customers report a “bad taste” in their tap water, and unlike chlorine will not fade away if left in the fridge overnight. The recent chloramine running annual average for Durham was 2 parts per million. Most one-size-fits-all water filters use filtration media that don’t adequately remove chloramine, but the filters that Hydroviv builds for Durham use special filtration media that are purpose-built to remove chloramine as well.

Still Have Questions About Durham’s Tap Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each city’s water. The chemicals that we list above are what we consider to be “points of emphasis” so we can build the best water filter for Durham tap water, but all of our water filters provide broad protection against other contaminants commonly found in drinking water (e.g. VOCs, heavy metals [including lead], pharmaceuticals, solvents, pesticides, mercury).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Durham tap water, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook.

Please Share This City of Durham Water Quality Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

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Kezia Snipe | Research Analyst
**Updated July 2021 to include current data

We've updated our assessment for Columbus drinking water to include 2021 data. Our Water Nerds looked at the most recent report for the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference Columbus water data with toxicity studies in scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we offer at Hydroviv are optimized with these numbers in mind.

Source Of Columbus' Drinking Water

Depending on where you live, the City of Columbus draws surface water from either the Griggs, O'Shaughnessy, or Hoover Reservoirs, with supplementary groundwater from nearby wells. To find a map of your service area, click here.

High Levels Of Chromium 6 In Columbus' Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is an extremely toxic metal that is not currently regulated by the EPA. In recent years, chromium 6 in Columbus tap water has ranged from 150 to 250 parts per trillion. To put this into perspective, these levels are upwards of 12 times higher than the concentration determined to have negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Columbus' Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants that form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic matter.  Although these chemicals are not currently regulated very well, the EPA has admitted that they are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems.

Chlorine In Columbus' Drinking Water

Like most other municipalities in the U.S., Columbus injects its water with chlorine to protect against waterborne illness. While not typically considered to be harmful on its own, many people find that removing chlorine from drinking water greatly enhances its taste and odor.

Still Have Questions?

Hydroviv uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each customer's water. The contaminants that we list above are what we consider to be major “points of emphasis” that we use to build water filters that are built specifically for Columbus drinking water quality, but our filters provide broad protection against a wide range of contaminants, including lead, mercury, and VOCs.

**Updated April 24, 2021 to include current data
Kezia Snipe  |  Hydroviv Research Analyst

Our Water Nerds have updated our assessment of Austin drinking water, to include the most recent data provided by the city. We use data from Austin Water Utilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. Our Water Nerds then reference these data with toxicity studies in the scientific and medical literature to determine potential susceptibilities. The custom water filters that we offer at Hydroviv are optimized to remove contaminants in Austin drinking water. 

Source Of Austin Drinking Water

Austin gets its drinking water from the Colorado River, as it flows into Lake Travis and Lake Austin. This water is then treated at one of three treatment plants before being distributed to Austin residents.

PFAS In Austin Drinking Water

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS are a category of chemicals found in various non-stick/stain resistant products, as well as fire fighting foam. PFAS are considered to be "emerging contaminants" because they are not currently regulated by EPA, but are known to be toxic, carcinogenic, and persistent in the environment. High levels of PFAS have been detected in Austin, specifically at the former Bergstrom Air Force Base located a few miles away from the Colorado River. The levels detected at the Bergstrom Air Force Base are 142 times higher than the public health threshold determined by EPA. Most municipalities don't test for or remove PFAS from tap water, and most water filters are not designed to remove PFAS. If you'd like to find water filters that remove PFAS, check out this recent Duke/NC State study. 

Lead In Austin Drinking Water

Lead enters tap water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures put in place by the municipality fail (like what recently happened in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into the drinking water, and can reach dangerous levels. Currently, 10% of samples analyzed for lead in Austin are 1 parts per billion. Though Austin's drinking water is in compliance with federal regulations, EPA, CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics all acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead for children. Hydroviv Undersink and filters are NSF/ANSI certified to remove lead from drinking water. 

Chromium 6 Levels In Austin Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is a highly toxic metal that is not regulated by the EPA. In recent years, Austin’s tap water has averaged 175 parts per trillion for Chromium 6. For a bit of perspective, these levels are 8.75 times higher than the concentration determined to have negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Austin Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants that form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic matter. Although these chemicals are not currently regulated very well, the EPA website discloses that high levels of disinfection byproducts are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems.

Chloramine In Austin Drinking Water

While most municipalities use chlorine as the primary disinfectant, Austin’s drinking and tap water is disinfected with chloramine (produced by mixing chlorine and ammonia). Chloramine is primarily responsible for what many customers report as the “bad taste” of tap water, and unlike chlorine does not dissipate if a container of water is left in the refrigerator overnight. Most one-size-fits-all water filters use filtration media that doesn’t do a great job removing chloramine, but the filters that we design and build at Hydroviv for Austin's water uses special filtration media that is purposefully designed to remove chloramine as well.

Still Have Questions About Austin Tap Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each city’s water. The contaminants that we list above are what we consider to be major “points of emphasis” that we use to build water filters that are built specifically for Austin's tap water, but all of the home water filtration systems that we build provide broad protection against other contaminants commonly found in drinking water (e.g. VOCs, heavy metals [including lead], pharmaceuticals, solvents, pesticides, mercury).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Austin's tap water, or just have questions about water quality in general, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook. We pride ourselves in being a reputable source of information on water quality, and your questions will be answered by scientists, not salespeople (we don't have any salespeople).

Please Share This Austin Drinking Water Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

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Kezia Snipe  |  Hydroviv Research Analyst

**Updated 2/22/2022 to include the most current Water Quality Data

For Hydroviv’s assessment of Baltimore's tap water, we aggregated water quality test data from City of Baltimore Department of Public Works, the city’s water provider and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference these data with toxicity studies in the scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we build for our neighbors in Baltimore (Hydroviv is a DC-based company) are optimized with this research in mind.

Source Of Baltimore's Drinking Water

Baltimore's tap water originates as surface water collected from rainfall and snowmelt as the source of its water. This water, approximately 75-billion gallons of storage volume at maximum capacity, is collected and stored in the City-owned and operated watersheds: Liberty, Loch Raven, and Prettyboy.

Lead In Baltimore Drinking Water

Lead enters Baltimore's tap water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures put in place by the municipality fail (like what recently happened in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into the drinking water, and can reach dangerous levels. Currently, 10% of samples analyzed for lead in Baltimore are over 3.06 parts per billion. Though Baltimore's water quality is currently in compliance with federal regulations, EPA and CDC both acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead, and federal regulations do not take into account levels measured at an individual tap. Homes built before 1986 are most susceptible to lead contamination. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that any taps used to serve children have lead levels no higher than 1 part per billion.

Arsenic Concentrations In Baltimore Drinking Water

Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal that is known to cause cancer and other health issues. Unlike lead, which distributes into water from plumbing, arsenic comes from the source water itself. While the average of less than 3 parts per billion is within EPA's regulated threshold, Hydroviv strongly recommends that anyone that lives in an area with more than 1 part per billion take steps to remove arsenic from their water, especially families with children.

Chromium 6 In Baltimore Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is a hazardous metal not regulated by the EPA in drinking water. Baltimore’s tap water recently averaged 39 parts per trillion for chromium 6. These levels are nearly twice the concentration determined to have a negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Baltimore Drinking Water

DBPs (including Haloacetic Acids-- HAA5s, and Trihalomethanes--TTHMs), are a category of emerging contaminants that are created when chlorine-based disinfectants added to the water supply combine with naturally-occurring organic matter. Although these chemicals are not fully regulated, the EPA has explicitly stated that they are linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems. In 2020 the level of trihalomethanes (TTHM) ranged from 32 -122 ppb, exceeding the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 80 ppb. The level of Haloacetic Acids ranged between 7 - 72.5 ppb, which also exceeds the MCL of 60 ppb. 

Radium in Baltimore Drinking Water

Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal. Radium in drinking water is of primary concern because exposure through drinking water may cause cancer, kidney damage and birth defects. Radium levels in 2020 were reported to be as high as 1.6 ppb with the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goal 5 ppb. 

Still Have Questions About Baltimore Drinking Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each customer's water. The contaminants that we list above are what we consider to be major “points of emphasis” that we use to build water filters that are built specifically for Baltimore, but all of our our filters provide broad protection against a wide range of contaminants (including lead).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Baltimore tap water, or just have questions about water quality in general, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news onTwitter or Facebook. We pride ourselves in being a reputable source of information on water quality, and your questions will be answered by scientists, not salespeople (we don't have any salespeople).

Please Share This City of Baltimore Water Quality Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

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