Water reports

How to read a water quality report

A plain-English walkthrough of Consumer Confidence Reports, including report years, detected contaminants, legal limits, violations, and source notes.

Last reviewed: May 29, 2026

Quick answer

Start with the report year, the public water system name, and the PWSID. Then read the contaminant table alongside notes about violations, notices, and source water.

Steps

  1. Confirm the public water system name and PWSID.
  2. Check the report year before using the information as current context.
  3. Read detected contaminants separately from listed violations.
  4. Use official notices for current instructions.
  5. Follow source links when a detail affects a decision.

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