Top 10 Emerging Contaminants in 2025

You might be surprised to discover that your water is not quite as safe as you would like it to be. The taste and well water sources pose various health risks, which include the presence of several dangerous elements, some of which are present in concentrations that are many folds higher than the accepted standards.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets legal limits for various contaminants in water, but these limits don’t always align with health-based recommendations. Let’s dive deeper into some of the most common and worrying contaminants that could be hiding in your tap water.

PFAS are a group of man-made substances used in thousands of consumer goods including clothing, cookware, and firefighting foam. All these are stronger than any other chemical product and can hardly decompose either in the human body or in the environment.

EPA is setting enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) at 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, individually. Even at lower concentrations, though, worries are growing regarding the possible negative health effects linked to these chemicals.

Many different diseases, including liver disease and immunosuppression, hormonal disruption of the thyroid, and even cancer have been associated with PFAS exposure. Reverse osmosis is an effective way for reducing the concentration of PFAS in the drinking water for those who have concerns about contamination.

Related: What Are PFAS and How Can We Safely Remove Them from Drinking Water?

Microplastics are plastics that have a dimension of equal to or less than 5mm (about 0.2 in). They originate from the breakdown of larger forms of plastics such as bottles, bags and fabrics from clothes and other small items such as scrubs.

For more information, click here: How to Remove Microplastics from Drinking Water?

These microplastics have distinct impacts on human health and are found in drinking water though more research is still ongoing to determine their effects.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has set out that there should also be more research conducted on microplastics in drinking water and their potential health impacts, there are no specific requirements established for them at the moment. Some studies suggest that filtration can help reduce the concentration of microplastics in water, especially if the filtration is done using reverse osmosis or activated carbon.

Lead plumbing pipes or fixtures deteriorate over time and the toxic and hazardous metal, lead, leaches into drinking water. Those with lead-based construction products or those with buildings with old plumbing systems may encounter this.

EPA has set the maximum contaminant level goal for lead in drinking water at zero because lead can be harmful to human body even at low exposure levels.It is persistentand can bioaccumulate in thehumanbody in thelong run.

Newborns, pregnant women, and young children are the most affected by the hazards that come with exposure to lead. Lead in any amount in drinking water can cause health issues, learning disabilities, and developmental issues as well. Water filters, including certified lead-reducing, activated carbon filters, and reverse osmosis systems may be helpful.

Ideally, in order to minimize tooth decay, which is caused by bacteria and other substances, communities add a naturally occurring mineral called fluoride to water. Fluoride in drinking water is bad for health in enormous quantities, but in moderate amounts it is good for teeth.

Ideally, water should contain 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L of fluoride for dental health benefits but to protect the public health the Environmental Protection Agency has set the MCL at 4.0 mg /L.

Arsenic is found naturally in soil and rocks. Groundwater that could be used for drinking water may absorb trace amounts. Long-term consumption of low-arsenic water has been associated with a number of health problems, such as diabetes and a higher risk of cancers of the bladder, lungs, liver, and other organs. The following information relates to arsenic:

• The health effects of arsenic may not be immediate.
• Effects can take years to manifest.
• Long-term exposure to low levels is particularly concerning.
• Arsenic exposure is cumulative, meaning its impact builds over time.
• Prolonged contact can gradually worsen its effects.

EPA set the arsenic standard for drinking water at 10 ppb (or 0.010 parts per million). But even if you consume drinking water which contains arsenic in concentrations below the EPA maximum for many years, the risk of cancer will be higher.

Manganese is a naturally occurring element present in water, soil, and air as well as in many food items. At the low level, it is especially important in the performance of several functions in the body. Nevertheless, manganese is toxic when taken in large amounts or in the form of drinking water.

For manganese, the EPA has established a secondary drinking water criterion of 0.05 mg/L. This standard is not regulatory and is used to provide some idea on when manganese impacts water quality. The EPA also has a health advisory level of 0.3 mg/L for long term vulnerability to manganese.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) are a class of compounds that are formed as a by-product of the reaction between chlorine which is used as a disinfectant in municipal water treatment systems and the naturally occurring organic materials in water. These compounds are chloroform, bromoform and dibromochloromethane.

Based on locational running annual average (LRAA) , the U.S. EPA has set the maximum concentration limit (MCL) for total trihalomethanes at 0.080 mg/L. The EPA has determined that the substance poses a health risk at levels higher than the MCL.

Five byproducts of chlorine or chloramine that are used to sterilize drinking water with organic matter are called haloacetic acids (HAA5). This group consists of 5 acids:

1. Dibromoacetic Acid

2. Mono bromoacetic Acid

3. Trichloroacetic Acid

4. Monochloroacetic Acid

5. Dichloroacetic Acid

Currently, the MCL for HAA5 in water supply has been determined by EPA to be 0.060 mg/L for safe human consumption. Potential choices for filtration include reverse osmosis systems, which may reduce these contaminants for those concerned with the level of HAA5 in their tap water.

This naturally occurring heavy metal is also known as hexavalent chromium; it is usually formed due to industrial activities. Chromium 6 is highly lethal, no matter how small the amount of it is present in each environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that people exposed to it have adverse health effects that include cancers and thus fall under Group 1 carcinogens.

EPA has a drinking water standard of 0.1 milligrams per liter (mg/l) or 100 parts per billion (ppb) for total chromium. This includes all forms of chromium, including chromium-6.

TCE is a well-known carcinogenic VOC that has been widely used in industries and commercial applications. Research has also established that TCE can cause heart defects in the developing fetus, which is why it is so dangerous during pregnancy and childhood. Other significant health hazards consist of:

• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Liver and Kidney Cancer
• Damage to the developing fetus; harm to the immune, neurological, brain and reproductive systems and a disruption of hormones.

However, the EPA allows TCE to be present in drinking water at a level of up to 5 ppb , although these chemicals cause the following serious health effects. For better protection of the immune system, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends a stricter policy of 0.4 ppb .

Basic water is essential to help reduce the risk of being affected by diseases within your household. Waterdrop filters do not only offer you a filtration system; they offer you real defense against many deadly contaminants which may exist in your tap water. Waterdrop’s advanced reverse osmosis water purification system ensures that you enjoy clean water with or without lead, chlorine, PFAS, and other contaminants.

People use Waterdrop reverse osmosis water filters in millions because they are NSF certified that means they meet safety and quality standards. The filters are a practical solution for everyone who wants to have long-term protection as the filters are easy to install and use.