For those who want to learn what kind of contaminants are in their drinking water, a new Tap Water Database has been created and launched this week by the Environmental Working Group based in Washington, D.C.
The database is described as the most complete source on the quality of U.S. drinking water, including cities throughout Oklahoma. It’s a compilation of data from nearly 50,000 public water systems in all 50 states.
For instance, a check of Oklahoma City drinking water shows information provided to the EWG by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Oklahoma City tap water was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards but the data also indicated it contained 8 contaminants detected above health guidelines and eleven other detected contaminants.
The 8 contaminants included bromate, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Chromium, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Total trihalomethanes and Trichloroacetic acid, all cancer causing chemicals.
The city of Tulsa had 7 contaminants detected above health guidelines and 13 other detected contaminants. Stillwater had 8 and 10 respectively. Lawton was 7 and 12. Del City’s was listed at 10 and 13.
“Americans deserve the fullest picture possible of what’s in their tap water,” said EWG President Ken Cook. “But they won’t get that information from the government or, in many cases, from their utilities. The only place they’ll find that is EWG’s drinking water report.”