There are a number of reasons for not drinking tap water. Some people can’t stand the smell or taste of their water. Others are allergic to something in the water (like fluoride). Still others get their water from a well whose water is either unpalatable or unsafe. And others point to cases where a city’s water was reported safe, but later revealed as dangerous.

Still others say the EPA’s standards – which cities across America use to regulate their water supplies - are too lax. For example, in 2005, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested tap water in 42 states. While they discovered 90% compliance to EPA standards, they also found 141 water supplies containing unregulated chemicals with no safety standards.

Many experts say the average healthy adult needn’t worry about these chemicals, but most caution that pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses or weak immune systems are at risk whenever they drink tap water.

There are a number of potentially harmful things found in American tap water. They include:

Pesticides and other chemicals, which are linked to cancer and kidney, liver, and nervous disorders. One of the most problematic chemicals is trihalomethane (THM), which is created after chlorinated water leaves a treatment plant and reacts with decaying plants or animals. The water then creates chloroform, which is an anesthetic that depresses the central nervous system. According to the United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, breathing chloroform causes headaches, fatigue, and dizziness, and chronic exposure may lead to liver and kidney damage.

Fluoride, which is found naturally in water, and since the 1940s, is added to public water in many cities. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says children may be exposed to too much fluoride, causes dental fluorosis, a permanent discoloration of the teeth.

Asbestos, arsenic, mercury, and lead, which can vary in levels from house to house. Chemicals like these are associated with brain damage (especially in infants or fetuses). Houses with plumbing dating from 1985 or earlier generally have water with a lead content of 50%.

Radon, which the EPA says up to 17 million Americans have in their water. This is harmful particularly when inhaled as steam (as when you take a shower).

Bacteria and viruses, which are particularly difficult to combat in wells. In city chlorination systems, they typically die, but some microbiological contaminants are more difficult to combat.

Chlorine, which is commonly used in city water supplies. When steam comes from your pipes (for example, when you shower), it’s not just the heat of the water creating steam. The chlorine in the water is also vaporizing, which is potentially damaging to the respiratory system, especially among those with pre-existing problems like asthma or chronic bronchitis. The American Journal of Public Health also links inhalation of shower chlorine to skin irritation (including eczema) and some cancers.

Although cities are required to test their tap water regularly, the testing takes place at the plant and problems often arise in the city’s pipelines, or in your home’s plumbing. Therefore, if you suspect a problem or have an older home, it’s a good idea to have your water tested.

Free tests offered by anyone other than your local government are a come on to buy a product, so it’s better to pay a professional lab to do the job. Unfortunately, this is expensive because one test is required for each possible pollutant. Too, your water quality can change daily. If you think lead might be an issue (because, for example, you have a home built in the mid-1980s or earlier), you can test only for lead without spending a fortune.

If you get your water from a well, you must test it regularly. Have the well checked at least once for radon, lead, and mineral content and at least once a year for bacteria and nitrate.

To find a testing lab, contact your state health department for a recommendation. There are also mail-order labs that send you the testing supplies so you can collect a sample and mail it to them. Comprehensive mail-order tests run about $140 to $170, while a test just for lead is about $40.

There are two types of water filters: Whole-house purification systems, which filter the water in your entire home (at the kitchen sink, in the shower, in the laundry room, in the dishwasher, etc.) or point-of-entry filters (typically found at the kitchen sink).

Whole house systems cost thousands of dollars and can use a number of methods for filtering the water, from reverse osmosis to distillation. Faucet-mounted filters, which are considered the least effective type, cost about $50 to $95 and under the sink systems, which experts say work better, are generally $70 to $150.

Filters use a barrier to block pollutants. These barriers are generally made of fabric or ceramic. Read labels carefully, since not all filters block the same impurities. Most filters also use activated charcoal; this generally reduces any odors, plus the amount of chlorine, mercury, THMs, and pesticides in the water. It may also remove radon, but few activated charcoal filters effectively reduce lead. However, activated charcoal can have side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.

All filter systems need replacement filters on a regular basis. (Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.) Otherwise, they build up harmful bacteria and other pollutants.

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection devices are often touted as the ultimate solution to tap water problems, but while they do improve the odor of the water and may kill viruses and bacteria, they do not work against chemicals.

Reverse osmosis is best for homes with multiple sources of water contamination. This system removes lead and metals, asbestos, and (if there is a carbon filter) pesticides and radon. Not all reverse osmosis systems remove chlorine, however.

Although bottled water seems like the easiest solution to distasteful or harmful tap water, according to Congress, 30,000,000 plastic bottles a year end up in U.S. landfills. Modest estimates say it takes 50 to 450 years for each of these plastic bottles to biodegrade, depending upon conditions. Recycling those plastic bottles isn’t the solution, either, since it costs too much to make those bottles into new plastic bottles. Too, according to Pacific Research Institute, it takes 17 million barrels to make water bottles for Americans - plus additional oil to transport them. This oil could fuel over a million cars for one year.

Plastic water bottles or plastic reusable bottles must be used carefully, too. When left in a warm place (like the car or a shipping yard), plastic containers leach chemicals linked to cancer in adults and poor brain function in children and babies. In addition, once a plastic water bottle is opened, it shouldn’t stay at room temperature for very long, or it develops bacteria. Reusable bottles require a run through the dishwasher to help prevent bacterial growth.

There’s also something called “water in a box,” which is healthier and more environmentally friendly. The manufacturers of IceBox water, for example, say that for every 5,000 five liter box consumed, 25,000 plastic water bottles are replaced, 1,396 pounds of plastic are removed from the manufacturing process, and 474 gallons of oil are not used. The vegetable-dye printed packaging is 100% recyclable cardboard from sustainable forests; it quickly biodegrades into compost that’s good for the soil. And the carbon footprint of one IceBox water container is just 71% of a comparably sized plastic water bottle.

To avoid problems with bacteria, IceBox water has a spout made from the same material used for IV bags. According to the manufacturer, these Polyethylene spouts use “a fraction” of the oil used for plastic water bottles. Too, because of this spout, the water stays fresh indefinitely. The spout’s one-way valve doesn’t allow contamination to enter the box, even after it’s been opened.

What are you and your family’s needs? Perhaps a combination of point of entry filter and water in a box is the perfect solution for your budget and your lifestyle. Or maybe you need to invest in new plumbing or a whole house filtration system. Maybe your tap water is just fine, but you can switch to water in a box instead of plastic water bottles. Improve your health. Save the planet. The choice is yours.

Check your city's water report at the EPA's website.

Find your state's health department.

Find a local retailer for IceBox water.