The water briefing · Monitoring
EPA launches a broader search for drinking-water contaminants
A new EPA study will use non-targeted analysis to look for potential pollutants beyond the chemicals covered by routine tests. The research will screen for pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and other substances to help identify future research priorities.
A clearer perspective.The details that matter
What this means.
- Researchers will screen beyond a fixed list of chemicals using non-targeted analysis.
- The study complements existing monitoring; its announcement contains no results for an individual water system.
The context. This is a study announcement. It does not report a finding about your local water supply or establish a new drinking-water limit.
Connect it to your water.
Start with the system named on your bill, then check the sample dates and the original report.
Read your water system’s recordsKeep exploring
More from the water briefing.
UCMR 6 proposal outlines the next round of national monitoring
This remains a proposal in the sources reviewed. UCMR 6 would be a separate monitoring cycle from the UCMR 5 records currently shown on this site.
EPA’s final PFAS survey data: what the complete results show
UCMR 5 is a one-time monitoring survey. A result at or above a limit is a measurement, not a violation: the PFOA and PFOS limits are enforced on running annual averages from 2029, and EPA has proposed letting eligible systems request more time, to 2031.