About WaterAdvantage.org
Independent water quality information for businesses and communities across the United States.
What This Site Does
Water quality data exists — scattered across EPA databases, USGS monitoring records, and municipal filings. But for most people, it's buried in jargon and hard to act on. This site pulls that publicly available data together into one view per water system, with plain-language context. It is not a substitute for your utility's Consumer Confidence Report, which is the most authoritative source for what is in your specific tap water.
About the Author
Jacob Thorwolf is an Account Executive at Bottleless Nation, a commercial water filtration company. Through that work, he reads municipal water reports, reviews EPA compliance data, and sees firsthand how water quality affects commercial facilities across the country.
That daily exposure to the data is what led to this site. The information businesses need to make informed decisions about their water is publicly available — it just hasn't been brought together in one accessible place. WaterAdvantage.org is a personal project built to change that.
Jacob is not a scientist, water engineer, or medical professional. He's an industry-informed researcher who works with this data daily and wants to make it useful for others. All content on this site draws from publicly available sources like the EPA, EWG, and municipal water utilities. Where product categories are discussed, comparisons are made at the category level — not between specific brands. Where expert interpretation is needed, the source is cited so you can draw your own conclusions.
Data Sources
All data on this site comes from publicly available federal and state sources. No proprietary data is used.
EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) →
Utility compliance data, violation records, and Lead and Copper Rule testing results. The primary source for utility-specific data on this site.
USGS Water Quality Portal →
Regional groundwater monitoring data from USGS and state agency wells. The primary source for regional monitoring data on this site. These readings come from monitoring wells in the area, not from utility tap water.
CalEPA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) →
California Public Health Goals (PHGs) — health-based, non-enforceable standards that are often more protective than federal MCLs. Used as reference lines on charts alongside EPA limits.
Municipal Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) →
Annual water quality reports published by local utilities. The most authoritative source for what is in your specific tap water.
EWG Tap Water Database →
Independent analysis of utility tap water data. EWG health guidelines are used as the health goal reference for disinfection byproducts (TTHMs, HAA5) where no EPA MCLG or OEHHA PHG exists.
CDC Drinking Water →
Public health guidance on drinking water safety, treatment, and waterborne disease prevention.
NSF International →
Independent testing and certification standards for water filters and treatment products.