Overview
Legal does not necessarily equal safe.
- Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
- Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
- The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
AquaPura's analysis shows 5 contaminant(s) detected in City of Cambridge's water exceed recommended health guidelines, though they may be within legal limits set by the EPA.
Contaminants Detected
This Utility: 0.666 ppb
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
167x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.004 ppb
0.004 ppb
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 2.9 ppb
Legal Limit: 60 ppb
29x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)*
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 4.7 ppb
No Legal Limit
78x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.06 ppb
0.06 ppb
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.13 ppb
Legal Limit: 5 ppb
2.7x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.05 ppb
0.05 ppb
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 12.8 ppb
Legal Limit: 80 ppb
85x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.15 ppb
0.15 ppb
Chloroform
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.57 ppb
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.4 ppb
0.4 ppb
This Utility: 0.513 ppb
Legal Limit: 100 ppb
Find a Filter
See which water filtration technologies are effective at reducing the contaminants detected in this utility's water supply.
Carbon Filters
Filters 3 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+1 others)
Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.
Pros
- Lower upfront cost
- Reduced maintenance
Cons
- Does not remove all contaminants
Reverse Osmosis
Filters 5 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+6 others)
Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.
Pros
- Most effective
Cons
- Higher upfront cost
- Requires more maintenance
- Wastes water
Other Considerations
Ion Exchange
PROS: Softens hard water, Reduces some contaminants
CONS: Doesn't remove all contaminants
Whole-House Filters
PROS: Useful for reducing radiologicals and TCE
CONS: Expensive to install and maintain, Risk of bacterial contamination
Explore filter options for each contaminant. See which technologies are effective at reducing specific contaminants.
| Contaminant | Activated Carbon | Reverse Osmosis | Ion Exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminants Above Health Guidelines | |||
| Arsenic | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9)* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Other Contaminants Detected | |||
| Barium | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chloroform | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chromium (total) | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fluoride | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Manganese | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Molybdenum | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Strontium* | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Protect your family's health.
Don't wait for your utility to improve. Get a free water analysis from AquaPura and find the right filtration system for your home.