05/09/2025
Did you know your tap water takes a long, rusty road trip before it ever reaches your glass?
Even if your city water meets all the EPA standards at the treatment plant, that’s just the starting point. From there, it travels through underground pipes that are, on average, over 45 years old. In cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Washington D.C., some water mains are 80 to 100+ years old and still in use.
To prevent bacteria and viruses from growing in those aging pipelines, cities add chlorine or chloramine (a mix of chlorine and ammonia).
Its intention is to keep the water safer during the journey… but not without consequences.
By the time it reaches your home, that water can carry:
• Lead from old joints and solder
• Rust, copper, and iron from corroded pipes
• Chlorine byproducts like THMs
• Biofilm buildup that can harbor bacteria
• And in some areas, traces of “forever chemicals” like PFAS
Bottom line? Clean at the plant doesn’t always mean clean at the tap.
If your home was built before 1986 or your neighborhood has aging infrastructure, it’s worth asking:
What’s your water traveling through before it gets to you?
Curious how your home’s water quality measures up? We offer free reports and in-home demonstrations — just ask.
