Summaries and educational materials (toolkits, handouts, infographics, etc.) are publicly available resources, and the full scientific reports are free for Water Quality Association (WQA) members.
If you are not a WQA member, please contact [email protected] to inquire about access to the full report(s) of interest.
If you are not a WQA member, please contact [email protected] to inquire about access to the full report(s) of interest.
The Contaminant Occurrence Map contains water quality data from 2019-2023 for 22 different drinking water analytes in the United States |
Interactive Map | 'How To' Use the WQRF Map Video
Contaminant Level Occurrence Above the MCLG (regulated contaminants): Executive Summary, Full Report
Aesthetics Level Occurrence Study (hardness, iron, pH, manganese, disinfection residuals): Executive Summary, Full Report
Phase 2A Report (Alkalinity, chloride, corrosivity, LSI, nitrate, nitrate-nitrite, orthophosphate, total phosphate, and sulfate): Full Report
Phase 2B Report (1,4-dioxane, Cr6, PCE, Uranium, radium, calcium, magnesium, radon, strontium): Full Report
Interactive Map | 'How To' Use the WQRF Map Video
Contaminant Level Occurrence Above the MCLG (regulated contaminants): Executive Summary, Full Report
Aesthetics Level Occurrence Study (hardness, iron, pH, manganese, disinfection residuals): Executive Summary, Full Report
Phase 2A Report (Alkalinity, chloride, corrosivity, LSI, nitrate, nitrate-nitrite, orthophosphate, total phosphate, and sulfate): Full Report
Phase 2B Report (1,4-dioxane, Cr6, PCE, Uranium, radium, calcium, magnesium, radon, strontium): Full Report
Case Studies of SDWA Compliance
State primacy agencies and public water systems were surveyed to better understand how each state utilizes and manages Point-of-Use (POU) and Point-of-Use (POE) technologies for compliance.
Executive Summary | SDWA State Rules Report Case Study: Arizona Case Study: California | Case Study: New Hampshire Case Study: Oregon | 1-Minute Video 
Sustainability Comparison Study
This study examined point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) devices in comparison to improvements to existing centralized systems for Safe Drinking Water Act compliance using a triple bottom line analysis.
Final Report | Executive Summary Handout | Infographic Publication | 1-Minute Video |
Predictive Modeling of Drinking Water
The Predictive Modeling Study collected and assessed all available and relevant water quality data to generate a model that describes the most likely future drinking water contamination events over the next 5-10 years.
Final Report | Executive Summary Infographic | 1-Minute Video 
Emerging Contaminant Removal and Microbial Growth in POU Membrane Filtration and Activated Carbon
Dr. Zhou at Purdue University investigated the removal efficiencies of 3 PFAS chemicals, Manganese, Uranium, and Legionella by POU RO and activated carbon. A second objective was to evaluate the effects of water quality and microbial growth on removal of these emerging contaminants.
Handout l Publication Executive Summary l Full Report |
Emerging Contaminant Consumer Study
This independent study was performed by researchers from the University of Wisconsin system in June 2021, to gauge the American public’s knowledge of emerging contaminants in drinking water.
Final Report | Executive Summary Infographic | 1-Minute Video 
Household POU Filters: Tools for Long-term, Large Volume Monitoring of Tap Water Quality and Human Health Risks
This study demonstrated a proof of concept using point-of-use filters as a method for monitoring tap water quality over long time periods in lieu of grab-samples. Executive Summary Full Report Toolkit |
Cost Benefits of Point-of-Use Devices in Reduction of Health RisksFound the calculated lifetime loss to the Flint, MI community from lead exposure is $435M, whereas it would have only cost $11M to fund a 5-year community intervention strategy supplying POU activated carbon filters with lead adsorption capabilities.
Executive Summary l Full Report Handout - Lead l Handout - Microbes Journal of Water and Health Publication Environmental Research Publication 1-Minute Video |
Standardized Test Protocol DevelopmentA co-funded research undertaking at Virginia Tech resulted in the development of a standardized scaling test protocol for the evaluation of scale reduction devices and technologies. The study developed a protocol that can be repeated in any laboratory to evaluate the performance of scale reduction technologies/devices.
Environmental Engineering Science Publication Publication PDF Version |
Boil Water Notices in the United StatesThe first comprehensive database of the cause for boil water notices (BWN) issued by public water systems in the U.S.
Executive Summary Toolkit Full Report |
Reduction of Effluent Chloride to
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Peak Water Demand StudyData co-funding effort resulted in a statistically based probability model that would predict the peak water demand for single and multi-family dwellings having water-conserving plumbing fixtures.
Report Water Demand Calculator |
Counterfeit Refrigerator Filter StudyThe purpose of the study was to investigate if counterfeit filters illegally using a manufacturer’s logo passed testing requirements of certification claimed made.
Full Report |
National "Deep Dive" Water Quality StudyThe objectives of this study were to gather information that would help focus the scope of future WQRF research and to educate the public on point-of-use and point-of-entry technologies.
Report |
Water Softener Effects on Septic System PerformanceThis study was undertaken to investigate the effect home ion-exchange water softeners may have on the performance of onsite septic tanks.
2-pager | Executive Summary Full Report | 1-Minute Video |
Surrogate Study for VOCsLaid the ground work in NSF/ANSI standards for carbon filter manufacturers to test effectiveness for chloroform and claim effectiveness for 53 regulated organic chemicals.
Full Report |
Softened Water Benefits Studies
Energy Saving Study
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Dishwasher Study
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Laundry Study
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