How do contaminants get into water?
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and it can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: — Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. — Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming. — Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses. — Organic chemical contaminants, including synt
