About Water Is Life

Water Is Life is an independent water quality research and review platform dedicated to helping American households understand what is actually in their drinking water — and what to do about it.

We exist because the official story on US water quality is incomplete. The EPA’s compliance database shows most states scoring between 72% and 100% on safety metrics, leading millions of people to conclude their water is safe. But those scores were calculated without PFAS data, without tap-level lead testing, and using standards that haven’t been updated since 1996. Our job is to fill that gap with independent data.

What We Do

We research and publish two types of content. First, informational guides — our 50-state water quality analysis rates every US state on a five-factor composite methodology covering PFAS contamination, lead and heavy metal risk, EPA violation rate, disinfection byproduct levels, and environmental justice and infrastructure age. This is the data that official scores miss.

Second, product reviews — we independently evaluate water filtration systems across every major category: whole house filters, well water systems, under-sink units, countertop options, RV filters, and off-grid solutions. Every product recommendation is matched to the specific contamination profile of the water it is designed to treat.

Our Rating Methodology

The Water Is Life state ratings use a 100-point composite score converted to a 1-to-5 star scale. The five factors and their weightings are:

• PFAS / Forever Chemical Contamination (30 points) — Number of confirmed contamination sites, estimated population exposed, and PFAS detected above EPA MCLs per EWG and UCMR 5 data. Weighted highest because SDWIS does not capture it.
• Lead and Heavy Metal Risk (25 points) — Pre-1986 lead service lines, documented exceedances, and known crises including Flint MI, Newark NJ, and Jackson MS.
• EPA Violation Rate — Health-Based Only (20 points) — Official health-based violations from SDWIS and TapWaterData. Used as a floor, not a ceiling.
• Disinfection Byproduct Levels (15 points) — TTHMs and HAA5s from EWG Tap Water Database and independent analysis.
• Environmental Justice and Infrastructure Age (10 points) — Chronic noncompliance, small system failures, and documented disparities in vulnerable communities.

Ratings are updated as new data becomes available from EPA UCMR reporting cycles, EWG database updates, and state-level disclosure. The current ratings reflect data through March 2026.

Our Editorial Standards

Water Is Life editorial content is researched and written by our in-house team using publicly available data from the EPA, EWG, CDC, NRDC, USGS, and state environmental agencies. We do not accept paid placements, sponsored content, or advertiser influence over our ratings or recommendations. Our affiliate relationships are disclosed clearly on every page that contains product recommendations and in our full Affiliate Disclosure.

When we recommend a filtration product, that recommendation is driven by the contaminant profile of the water it is designed to treat — not by commission rate or brand relationship. Our Editorial Policy and Product Review Policy are published in full.

Data Sources

Our research draws on the following primary sources:

• EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
• EPA UCMR 5 — Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (PFAS data, 2023–2026)
• EWG Tap Water Database and PFAS Contamination Interactive Map
• CDC National Biomonitoring Program
• NRDC Threats on Tap and Watered Down Justice reports
• USGS studies on PFAS in tap water and groundwater
• TapWaterData.com state rankings
• State environmental agency consumer confidence reports

Contact

Questions about our methodology, data, or content? We read every message. Contact us here.