How to Test and Treat Your Drinking Water

By Perry Santanachote

By Andy Bergmann
Former Director, Design & Data

By Perry Santanachote. Interactive by Andy Bergmann.

Published March 31, 2021·Updated December 7, 2023

Finding out what’s in your water and which water filter you need isn’t always straightforward. You need to find out which, if any, contaminants are in your tap water, and which filter works best for your situation. Plus, advice can vary depending on whether you’re on municipal or well water, and whether you have young children at home. This interactive will help you navigate the issues, especially related to three of the most concerning contaminants: lead, arsenic, and PFAS.

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More on Water Quality & Safety

CR’s Guide to Better, Safer Drinking Water

How to Test Your Tap Water

How to Get PFAS Out of Your Drinking Water

The Problem With Bottled Water

CR’s Water Safety & Quality Guide

Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the May 2021 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Perry Santanachote

As a multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports, Perry Santanachote covered a range of trends—from parasite cleanses to pickleball paddles. Perry was also a main producer of our Outside the Labs content, evaluating products in her tiny Manhattan apartment.

Andy Bergmann

Andy was the director of design and data at CR. His data-driven design work has been featured on CNN, FastCo, Washington Post, NPR, NBA, and Sports Illustrated. He was formerly an executive creative director at CNN and is the author of "The Starry Giraffe" (Simon & Schuster). Follow him on X: @dubly