7 Cities With Terrible Tap Water

No city wants to be known for having awful tap water quality, but unfortunately, quite a few cities in the US are contending for this title. Wondering which cities in the US have the worst tap water? Read on to discover which locations struggle with their water quality, and check if your city made the list!

Pittsburgh, PA

In 2016, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority failed its water quality test, with high levels of lead detected. Since then, the city’s tap water has continuously exceeded the federal lead threshold by almost 1.5 times. This water crisis stems from the corrosion of the city’s lead pipes over decades, as well as the illegal use of dangerous anti-erosion chemicals. As a result, higher instances of high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and other ailments have been found to be affecting residents of the community. 

Milwaukee, WI

The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has struggled for years with lead contamination in its drinking water. While the city has created a clean water advisory council in an effort to improve the situation, the city’s decaying plumbing system continues to contaminate the water. Additionally, Milwaukee’s water has been found to contain dangerous levels of chromium-6 and disinfection byproducts, signaling other contamination issues in addition to the plumbing system. 

Flint, MI

It’s no surprise that Flint, Michigan has extremely dangerous tap water. This city has been making headlines for its unsafe water quality and levels of municipal water contamination in recent years. The city has struggled with large amounts of lead contamination in their tap water for a while now, and oil fracking has only exacerbated the city’s drinking water crisis. Households throughout the city still struggle with high levels of water contamination, even as the city’s government works to replace the old water system’s components. 

Fresno, CA

Unfortunately, many cities in California rank poorly in terms of tap water quality, and Fresno is one of the worst. In 2017, scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, tested Fresno’s water and found 19 contaminants present at dangerously high levels. These include arsenic, dibromide, nitrate, ethylene, and others. While the city is working to improve its own large-scale purification process, residents of Fresno are encouraged to invest in their own water purification systems. 

Brady, TX

Quite a few Texan cities rank low for tap water quality, due partly to the state’s battle with radium contamination affecting many of their cities’ drinking water. The city of Brady sees its tap water radium levels reaching up to nine times higher than the legal, healthy limit. In fact, Brady’s water is so contaminated that it often runs yellow and orange! 

Pensacola, FL

Pensacola consistently finds itself listed as one of the worst cities in the US for tap water quality. Scientists found 45 contaminants in this city’s tap water with 21 of those present above the healthy levels. Some of the worst contaminants found include benzine, lead, radium-228, and tetrachloroethylene. Pensacola’s water was also found to contain chloroform and cyanide. 

Las Vegas, NV

The water quality in Sin City is sinfully dangerous. Las Vegas’ tap water has been found to contain 23 contaminants including 9 found at levels above healthy limits. While other cities see higher amounts of contaminants in their water, Las Vegas’ contaminant types are some of the worst. Those found include lead, arsenic, and radioactive uranium.

Healthy Water Should Be Available to Everyone

Water is an essential part of our daily life. We bathe in it, play in it, cook with it, and drink it to stay healthy. Unfortunately, millions of people are exposed to unsafe drinking water every year in the US. If you’re a resident in one of these featured cities, consider investing in a water purification system to safeguard yourself and your family.