Unfiltered Tap Water
Moderate burden — Unfiltered Tap Water adds a moderate, reducible exposure.
Municipal drinking water, straight from the tap.
The breakdown
Each driver rated 0 (none) to 10 (worst)
Evidence strength: moderate · Detox Score = 100 − hazard×4.6 − exposure×3.4 − persistence×2.6, clamped 1–100.
What this means for you
A Detox Score of 44 places unfiltered tap water in the Moderate band. It scores as it does mainly because of how much everyday contact it involves. Quality varies widely by region. Common concerns are disinfection by-products, lead from old pipes, and trace PFAS. A tested, certified filter removes most of them cheaply.
Frequently asked questions
Is unfiltered tap water a toxic exposure?
Unfiltered Tap Water has a Detox Score of 44 out of 100 (Moderate burden), which means it adds a moderate, reducible exposure. Quality varies widely by region. Common concerns are disinfection by-products, lead from old pipes, and trace PFAS. A tested, certified filter removes most of them cheaply.
What is a safer alternative to unfiltered tap water?
A lower-exposure swap for unfiltered tap water is: A certified carbon or reverse-osmosis filter. Quality varies widely by region. Common concerns are disinfection by-products, lead from old pipes, and trace PFAS. A tested, certified filter removes most of them cheaply.
Lower-exposure choices
More in Water
The science behind this entry
Guides in the Science Library that discuss this exposure.