Source hierarchy
Source categories used by the site
Each category has a different job. A source is not used to support a stronger claim than that source can carry.
A page explains where a record came from, when it was retrieved or reviewed, and what the available source can and cannot support.
EPA drinking-water resources
- Used for
- Public water system context, federal drinking-water concepts, national regulatory context, and additional system or violation records where appropriate.
- Not used for
- A live emergency alert service, household-specific safety finding, or proof that a city has one water provider.
- Known limitations
- Federal data can lag local events and may not include every detail users need for current local notices.
State drinking-water agencies
- Used for
- State program context, state-level public water system resources, official report paths, and state-specific record checks when available.
- Not used for
- Replacing the user's utility, city, county, or state current-alert page when urgent instructions are needed.
- Known limitations
- State portals and publication schedules vary. Some records can be difficult to match to a city or address without additional confirmation.
Consumer Confidence Reports / annual reports
- Used for
- Report-year summaries, contaminants listed in available reports, source-water notes, and violation or notice language included in the report record.
- Not used for
- Real-time water status, current boil-water instructions, or personal health conclusions.
- Known limitations
- CCRs are historical reporting documents. A latest report link may change, and a report can be missing from records currently included on this site.
Official notices and advisories when available
- Used for
- Public notice or advisory context only when an official source record is available and can be dated and linked clearly.
- Not used for
- Implying the site monitors every current advisory, emergency notice, or utility alert.
- Known limitations
- Water Quality Lookup does not collect live notices. Users need official current alerts for urgent decisions.
Source details
Details shown where available
Water Quality Lookup shows source and freshness details when they help readers understand where information came from and when it was reviewed.
Current concerns
How to verify a source right now
Source pages can help users find a path, but current advisories and personal concerns require official current sources.
- Open the utility or public water system website linked from a report, bill, or official record.
- Check the city, county, or state drinking-water authority for current notice pages.
- Use EPA or state public water system lookup resources when a PWSID or system name is available.
- For urgent advisories, rely on official current alerts rather than historical annual reports.
- For personal health concerns, speak with a qualified professional.