“Americans have long felt safe drinking their water out of the tap, and with good reason. For the most part, public water supplies and even well water throughout the country are highly unlikely to make anyone acutely ill. The occasional failures of public systems to operate properly are few and attract national attention. . . . But in recent years, the concern has been mounting about less obvious potential hazards in drinking water, especially residues of pesticides and industrial wastes, lead from old pipes, and compounds formed by chlorine and organic matter that are believed to be cancer-causing. The concern about water safety has prompted millions of Americans to reject the water that comes straight from the tap, resulting in two new growth industries: bottled water and filtration systems.”
Jane E. Brody
New York Times, July 18, 2000