When water flows out of the faucet and into a glass, it usually appears clean and healthy. A report released Wednesday, though, shows that the vast majority of Americans are drinking water fouled with hundreds of contaminants that can cause cancer, developmental issues in children, problems in pregnancy and other serious health conditions.

"There are chemicals that have been linked to cancer, for example, that are found above health-based limits, or health guidelines, in the water of more than 250 million Americans," said Nneka Leiba, director of Healthy Living Science at the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, an independent nonprofit organization that released a detailed account of the contaminants. EWG, in conjunction with outside scientists, assessed health-based guidelines for hundreds of chemicals found in our water across the country and compared them to the legal limits. The law often permits utilities to allow these dangerous chemicals to pollute our waters.

In Connecticut, EWG tracked 93 contaminants across the state's water supply. The following contaminants have been detected above health limits: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) which are linked to bladder cancer, skin cancer and fetal development issues.

which are linked to bladder cancer, skin cancer and fetal development issues. Bromodichloromethane which is linked to harm to child and fetuses, as well as reproductive difficulties.

which is linked to harm to child and fetuses, as well as reproductive difficulties. Chloroform which is linked to cancer and fetal development issues.

which is linked to cancer and fetal development issues. Chromium (hexavalent) which is linked to cancer, liver damage and productive system damages.

which is linked to cancer, liver damage and productive system damages. Dibromochloromethane which is linked to cancer and harm to fetuses.

which is linked to cancer and harm to fetuses. Radium-228 which is linked to cancer.

which is linked to cancer. Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) which has been linked with increased incidence of lung, breast and colon cancer.

which has been linked with increased incidence of lung, breast and colon cancer. Radium-226 which is linked to cancer.

which is linked to cancer. Arsenic which causes thousands of cancer cases every year nationwide.

which causes thousands of cancer cases every year nationwide. Chlorate which has been linked to impaired thyroid function, making it harmful during pregnancy and childhood. These contaminants were detected above legal limits

Arsenic

Uranium which is a known cancer causing substance "There are more than 250 contaminants across our nation's drinking water," said Leiba. "About 160 of those are unregulated. And that's a big concern, because if a chemical is unregulated, that means it can be present in our water at any level — and be legal." Most of the water in the United States comes from local utilities that measure contaminants in their water supply, but this data can be difficult to obtain. Peter Fazekas, a spokesman for the state's largest water utility provider Aquarion Water, stated the utility participates in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's monitoring program, which tests for 28 unregulated contaminants that do not have health standards. He further stated the company is committed to delivering safe drinking water to its customers.

"This monitoring provides a basis for future EPA regulations," said Fazekas in a statement."As the EPA sets standards for these contaminants, Aquarion will ensure its water systems are in compliance."



Contaminants in your water: EWG has released a public database cataloguing contaminants in water systems in every state in the country — the first comprehensive database of its kind that took two years to build. First select the state where you live, and you'll see state-level data. For more local information, enter your zip code.

After you enter your zip code, you'll be directed to a page showing the water utilities in your county. Select your town to see which contaminants put your families at risk. No single group has collected all this information for all 50 states in an easily searchable database — until now. And it's incredibly easy to use it to see what contaminants are coming through your faucet.