Where Our Data Comes From
Transparency is our foundation. Here's exactly where our data comes from and how we analyze it.
Comprehensive Federal Data Sources
EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
The foundation of our water quality data
EPA's SDWIS database contains information on all public water systems in the United States—the most comprehensive federal water quality repository.
- Basic system information for 150,000+ public water systems including name, location, and population served
- Violation tracking for health-based violations, monitoring failures, and treatment violations
- Contaminant data for 90+ regulated contaminants under the Safe Drinking Water Act
EPA Water Quality Portal (WQP)
297 million water quality records from 400+ agencies
The Water Quality Portal integrates data from USGS, EPA, and over 400 state, federal, tribal, and local agencies—the most comprehensive source of discrete water quality data in the United States.
Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs)
Annual water quality reports from local utilities
Every community water system serving 25+ people must deliver an annual Consumer Confidence Report by July 1st, containing the most recent local water quality testing data.
- Source water information including lakes, rivers, aquifers, or groundwater
- Detected contaminant levels with actual testing results for your water system
- Compliance status showing whether federal and state requirements were met
State and Local Water Quality Databases
California CEDEN
California operates one of the most comprehensive state monitoring programs, providing additional detail on streams, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters beyond federal requirements.
State Monitoring
State programs often have stricter standards than federal requirements:
- • California: Stricter chromium limits
- • Texas: TCEQ additional monitoring
- • Enhanced programs nationwide
Municipal Data
Many cities conduct additional testing beyond EPA requirements. We access municipal databases for the most complete local water quality picture.
Filter Certification Databases
NSF International Certification Database
info.nsf.org/certified/dwtu →NSF International maintains the definitive database of certified drinking water treatment units, providing verified performance data for thousands of filters.
- Certified products tested to meet specific NSF/ANSI standards
- Performance claims showing which contaminants each filter removes
- Standard compliance for NSF 42, 53, 401, and other certifications
WQA Gold Seal
The oldest third-party testing and certification program in the water treatment industry, providing:
- Independent contaminant reduction verification
- Material safety confirmation
- Annual performance inspections
IAPMO
Additional third-party certification for water treatment products, testing to the same NSF/ANSI standards with an alternative certification pathway.
Data Quality and Verification
Federal Data Reliability
Our federal sources represent the most reliable water quality information available:
- • SDWIS compliance legally required under Safe Drinking Water Act
- • Quality control through EPA validation protocols
- • Regular updates quarterly SDWIS, annual CCRs
Certification Verification
All filter certification data from accredited testing organizations:
- • ANAB accreditation NSF and WQA accredited by ANSI
- • Independent testing $100k+ per product costs
- • Ongoing verification regular retesting and inspections
Our Processing & Validation
We implement multiple data quality controls:
- • Source verification traced to original sources
- • Consistency checks cross-validation between sources
- • Update monitoring automated new data detection
- • Error detection algorithms flag anomalies
Addressing Current Market Failures
Comprehensive Coverage vs. Selective Data
Unlike databases that cherry-pick alarming data points, we provide complete water quality pictures using established EPA standards. We cross-reference with actual EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and state standards to provide accurate context.
Real-Time Updates vs. Outdated Information
While some databases rely on 2019 data, we continuously update with the most recent CCRs and government data releases—ensuring recommendations based on current conditions, not outdated information.
Actionable Solutions vs. Fear-Based Reporting
Rather than simply listing potential contaminants, we connect specific water quality issues to certified filter solutions—providing the practical guidance consumers need to make informed decisions.
Every Data Point is Traceable
Every data point in our system is traceable to its authoritative source, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and reliability in our water quality assessments and filter recommendations.