Tool
Water Report Decoder
Turn a city Consumer Confidence Report or private well lab result into practical next steps. This MVP is rule-based on the issues you already see in the report, so it helps you triage before you buy.
1. What kind of report are you decoding?
2. What does the report mention?
Select all issues that actually appear in the report or lab result.
3. Was any limit or health guideline exceeded?
What To Check
- Confirm the reporting year and whether the numbers reflect a system-wide annual average or a single sample result.
- Check whether the report shows a formal violation, a health-goal comparison, or only a detected amount.
- Separate taste-and-odor issues from contaminants that change drinking-water decisions.
Practical Next Steps
- Use the CCR to identify which contaminants were actually detected and whether the issue is widespread or plumbing-specific.
- If you have not isolated a contaminant yet, start with the source-specific checklist before jumping to filter shopping.
- If bacteria is part of the picture, inspection, disinfection, and retesting often come before filter shopping.
When To Retest Instead Of Shopping
- If the issue is lead and the report is system-wide rather than tap-specific, a home sample can be more useful than the CCR alone.
Suggested Paths
Open the contaminant guides that match your report, then use the quiz only after you know the problem category.