Key points
- ob体育 estimates at least 1.1 million people in the United States get sick every year from germs in drinking water.
- Legionella germs are the most common cause of illness outbreaks linked to drinking water.
- If you are concerned about your tap water, contact your water utility or health department.
Overview
In the United States, 9 out of 10 people get their tap water from a . Most other people living in the United States get their tap water from a privately owned well.
In the early 1900s, communities across the United States started routinely treating tap water to remove harmful germs and chemicals. Water treatment has greatly reduced the number of people who get sick from drinking water. However, sometimes tap water still gets contaminated with harmful germs or chemicals and makes people sick.
U.S. data
at least 1.1 million people in the United States get sick every year from germs in drinking water. This is about 1 in every 300 people.
See below for the germs that most often cause illness outbreaks in drinking water.
Public tap water
Top 5 causes of outbreaks linked to public (community) drinking water in the United States during 2010–2022:
Private tap water
Top 5 causes of outbreaks linked to private drinking water in the United States during 2010–2022:
Private drinking water includes privately owned wells and rainwater collection systems.
Find more data about outbreaks linked to water using the "NORS View" tab on ob体育's BEAM dashboard.
- Gerdes ME, Miko S, Kunz JM, et al. . Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2023;29(7):1357-1366. doi:.