Where to find it
- Your utility's website, usually under water quality.
- Your bill or a mailed notice with a link.
- EPA's online CCR search tool, linked from the EPA's CCR page.
- Your building manager or landlord, if you do not pay the water bill directly. The CDC notes that condo and apartment residents may not receive it in the mail.
Private well owners do not get a CCR, because there is no utility. Well water needs its own test.
What is in the report
According to the EPA, the report includes the source of your water (lake, river, aquifer), a summary of source water risks, the regulated contaminants detected, health effects of any contaminant found in violation, the utility's actions to restore compliance, and contact numbers including EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
Terms you will see
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| MCL | Maximum Contaminant Level: the enforceable legal limit |
| MCLG | The goal level, set where no known health risk is expected; not enforceable |
| MRDL | Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level: the limit for disinfectants like chlorine and chloramine |
| Action level | The trigger for extra treatment steps, used for lead and copper |
| ppm / ppb | Parts per million / billion |
| Range | Lowest to highest result during the year |
| ND | Not detected |
How to read the results table
- Find the contaminant row.
- Compare the detected level with the MCL or action level.
- Look for a "violation" or "meets standard" column. The CDC points readers to this column first.
- Check the year of sampling, since some contaminants are tested less often.
- Read the "likely source" column for context.
A contaminant listed in the table does not mean there is a problem. Utilities list what they tested and detected, including disinfectants they add on purpose.
What the report does not tell you
- Conditions inside your home's plumbing, which can affect things like lead and taste.
- Hardness, in some reports, since it is not a regulated health contaminant.
- Taste and odor preferences.
- Results for your specific tap on a specific day.
That is why many people pair the report with a home test. See home screening vs lab analysis.
Turning the report into a decision
Use the report to note the disinfectant your utility uses (chlorine or chloramine), any secondary items like hardness, and anything you want to reduce. Then choose equipment certified for those specific claims. Our chloramine guide explains why that detail matters. Questions about the report itself go to your utility, your health department, or the EPA hotline at 800-426-4791.
https://www.epa.gov/ccr/ccr-information-consumers
https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/about/how-to-read-drinking-water-quality-reports.html
https://www.epa.gov/ccr
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-01/ws-products-home-water-treatment-guide_v2_508.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist