Water Quality Report: How to Find and Read Yours
Last updated: November 6, 2026 · Sources: EPA, AWWA
A water quality report, officially called a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), is a yearly summary that your water utility must send you. It lists the contaminants found in your drinking water, how much was detected, the legal limit for each, and whether the water broke any federal rules. Most utilities must deliver it by July 1 each year.
The report can look confusing, with columns of abbreviations and numbers. This guide shows you how to find your drinking water quality report, how to read each part of it, and what to do if something looks wrong.
Water quality report at a glance
- Also called: Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or annual drinking water quality report
- Who gets one: customers of community water systems (not private wells)
- When: by July 1 every year; large systems will send it twice a year starting in 2027
- Most important column: violations
- Key terms: MCL (legal limit) and MCLG (health goal)
Already have results? Enter them in our free water test results checker to compare them with EPA limits.
What Is a Water Quality Report?
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, every community water system in the US must give customers an annual Consumer Confidence Report. It covers the previous calendar year and tells you where your water comes from, what was found in it, and whether it met EPA standards.
The rules are changing. Under EPA’s revised CCR rule, starting in 2027 the reports must open with a plain-language summary, and systems serving more than 10,000 people must deliver the report twice a year.
How to Find Your Water Quality Report
- Check your utility’s website. Search for your water utility’s name plus “water quality report” or “CCR.”
- Look at your water bill. Many utilities print a link to the report on the bill or mail a notice each summer.
- Use the EPA search tool. The EPA has an online search that links to many local Consumer Confidence Reports.
- Call your utility. The phone number is on your bill. They must provide a copy if you ask.
Looking for a water quality report by zip code? Reports are published by water system, not by zip code. Find the utility that serves your address first. Renters can ask their landlord which utility supplies the building.
How to Read Your Water Quality Report
Most reports follow the same structure. Here is what each part means:
- Water source: where your water comes from, such as a river, lake, reservoir or groundwater wells.
- Source water assessment: how vulnerable that source is to pollution.
- Detected contaminants table: the most important part, explained below.
- Violations: any time the system broke a rule, and what it is doing about it.
- Health information: required language about lead, and about people who may be more sensitive.
Reading the contaminants table
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) | The highest level allowed by law |
| MCLG (MCL Goal) | The level with no known health risk; a goal, not a limit |
| MRDL (Max. Residual Disinfectant Level) | The limit for disinfectants like chlorine |
| AL (Action Level) | Used for lead and copper; if exceeded, the utility must take action |
| TT (Treatment Technique) | A required treatment process instead of a numeric limit |
| ppm / ppb / ppt | Parts per million, billion or trillion; 1 ppm = 1 mg/L |
| ND | Not detected |
What to Look For in Your Report
- Violations. Any “Yes” deserves a close read, including what caused it and whether it has been fixed.
- Levels close to the MCL. Water can meet the law and still be near the limit.
- Lead and copper. These are measured at customers’ taps, so homes with old plumbing can differ from the system average.
- PFAS. Many reports now include PFAS results. Read our guide to PFAS water filters if they are listed.
- Hardness. Often listed with unregulated contaminants. Convert mg/L to grains per gallon by dividing by 17.1, and compare with our hard water map.
What If Your Report Shows a Problem?
- Read the explanation. The report must say what happened, the possible health effects and what the utility is doing.
- Call your utility for current results; the report covers last year.
- Test your own tap for lead if your home has old pipes or fixtures.
- Choose a certified filter for the specific contaminant. See our guide to types of water filters or reverse osmosis.
What a Water Quality Report Does Not Tell You
A CCR shows averages and ranges for the whole system over a year. It does not show what is coming out of your own faucet today, and it cannot show problems from your home’s plumbing. It also does not cover private wells. If you are on a well, read our well water testing guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my water quality report?
Check your water utility’s website, look for a link on your water bill, or use the EPA’s online search for local Consumer Confidence Reports. You can also call your utility and ask for a copy. Most systems must deliver the report by July 1 each year.
What should I look for first in my water quality report?
Look at the violations column and any summary of violations. If every contaminant shows “No” and the levels are below the MCL, your water met federal standards for that year.
Does a water quality report show water hardness?
Many reports list hardness, calcium or magnesium, often in a section for unregulated or secondary contaminants. Hardness is not a health standard, so some utilities leave it out. You can call your utility or test at home.
Can I get a water quality report by zip code?
Reports are published by water system, not by zip code. Find which utility serves your address (it is on your water bill), then look up that utility’s report. One zip code can be served by more than one water system.
Do private wells have a water quality report?
No. Consumer Confidence Reports only cover public water systems. If you have a private well, you are responsible for testing it, ideally at least once a year.
The Bottom Line
Your water quality report is the free, easy first step to understanding your tap water. Find it on your utility’s website or water bill, check the violations column first, and compare each detected level with its MCL. If something concerns you, call your utility, test your own tap and choose a filter certified for that contaminant.
Sources: EPA: Consumer Confidence Reports; AWWA: EPA issues revised requirements for Consumer Confidence Reports.
