The first thing most obstetricians tell pregnant patients about water is to drink more of it. Eight to ten glasses a day. Stay hydrated. It's good for you and for the baby.
What almost no OB in Connecticut discusses is what's in that water — and whether the specific water quality situation in the patient's town creates risks that warrant action before the next glass.
This is not a criticism of obstetricians. Water quality is not their domain. But it means that pregnant women in Connecticut are making decisions about their water based on incomplete information, and in some cases, the gaps in that information matter.
PFAS and Pregnancy
PFAS compounds cross the placental barrier. This is documented in peer-reviewed research — PFAS has been detected in umbilical cord blood, in breast milk, and in the blood of newborns whose mothers had elevated PFAS exposure during pregnancy.
The health effects of prenatal PFAS exposure that have been documented in research include:
- Reduced birth weight
- Altered immune system development (reduced vaccine response in infants)
- Thyroid hormone disruption in newborns
- Altered metabolic programming that may increase obesity risk in childhood
A 2020 study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with reduced birth weight and altered thyroid function in newborns. A 2019 study in JAMA Pediatrics found that higher prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with reduced antibody response to childhood vaccines.
For pregnant women in Fairfield County on Aquarion's water system, these are not abstract risks. Aquarion has documented PFAS in its groundwater-dependent supply. The compliance deadline is 2031. The pregnancy is now.
How Does Lead Affect Fetal Brain Development?
Lead crosses the placental barrier. There is no safe level of lead exposure for the developing fetal brain. Lead exposure during pregnancy is associated with reduced fetal birth weight, preterm birth, and — most significantly — irreversible neurological effects in the child.
The CDC's reference level for blood lead in children is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. This level was lowered from 5 mcg/dL in 2021 because research showed that neurological effects occur at lower levels than previously recognized. The direction of the research has consistently been toward lower and lower "safe" thresholds, with some researchers arguing there is no safe threshold at all.
For pregnant women in Waterbury, Bridgeport, Hartford, and other Connecticut cities with suspected lead service lines, the risk is specific and addressable. An NSF/ANSI 53 certified filter at the kitchen tap reduces lead to levels well below the EPA action level. This is a $30–$150 investment. Given what's at stake, it is not optional.
Can Nitrates in Well Water Harm Your Baby?
The federal limit for nitrates in drinking water — 10 mg/L — was set specifically to protect infants from methemoglobinemia, the condition where nitrates interfere with hemoglobin's ability to carry oxygen. The same mechanism that affects infants can affect fetuses.
Research has also found associations between maternal nitrate exposure during pregnancy and increased risk of neural tube defects, limb defects, and other birth defects. A 2010 study in Epidemiology found that maternal consumption of nitrate-contaminated well water was associated with increased risk of certain birth defects.
For pregnant women on private wells in the Connecticut River Valley agricultural areas — Windsor, Suffield, Enfield, East Windsor — nitrate testing is not optional. If your last well test was more than a year ago, test again before your next trimester.
What Pregnant Connecticut Women Should Do
If you're on Aquarion's water in Fairfield County: Install a reverse osmosis system at your kitchen tap. This removes PFAS effectively. Do it before the third trimester at the latest — ideally before you conceive.
If you're in a city with suspected lead service lines (Waterbury, Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven): Install an NSF/ANSI 53 certified filter at your kitchen tap. Run the tap for 30 seconds before filling the filter pitcher or using the filtered tap.
If you're on a private well in an agricultural area: Test for nitrates. If levels are above 5 mg/L — half the federal limit — consider a reverse osmosis system for drinking and cooking water during pregnancy.
If you're on a private well anywhere in Connecticut: Test comprehensively — bacteria, nitrates, lead, PFAS, radon, arsenic, uranium. The cost is $200–$500. The information is irreplaceable.
Pregnant or planning? See exactly what's in your water. Enter your ZIP code at CheckYourTap.com to see what's in your tap water — free, in 30 seconds.
Your OB is not going to ask about your water. Ask yourself.
Keep Reading
- Fairfield County Has a PFAS Problem and Your Water Bill Won't Fix It Until 2031
- Your Waterbury Water Is Soft. That's Actually Why You Should Worry About Lead.
- The Chemical Your Water Utility Uses to Keep You Safe Is Creating New Problems in the Process
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PFAS in drinking water affect pregnancy?
Yes. PFAS crosses the placental barrier and has been detected in umbilical cord blood and breast milk. A 2020 study in Environmental Health Perspectives linked prenatal PFAS exposure to reduced birth weight and altered thyroid function in newborns. A 2019 JAMA Pediatrics study found higher prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with reduced antibody response to childhood vaccines. For pregnant women on Aquarion's water system in Fairfield County, a reverse osmosis filter at the kitchen tap is the most effective protection.
What level of lead in water is safe during pregnancy?
There is no safe level of lead exposure for the developing fetal brain. The CDC lowered its reference level for blood lead in children from 5 to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter in 2021, and the direction of research has consistently been toward lower thresholds. Lead crosses the placenta and is associated with reduced birth weight, preterm birth, and irreversible neurological effects. An NSF/ANSI 53 certified filter at the kitchen tap ($30–$150) reduces lead effectively and is recommended for pregnant women in homes built before 1986.
Should pregnant women on private wells test their water?
Yes — and comprehensively. Private wells have no EPA monitoring or treatment requirements. Pregnant women on wells should test for bacteria, nitrates, lead, PFAS, radon, arsenic, and uranium. The cost is $200–$500. Nitrates above 5 mg/L (half the federal limit) warrant a reverse osmosis system during pregnancy, as nitrates interfere with fetal oxygen transport and are linked to birth defects including neural tube defects.
Sources: Environmental Health Perspectives, prenatal PFAS and birth outcomes, 2020; JAMA Pediatrics, prenatal PFAS and vaccine response, 2019; Epidemiology, nitrates and birth defects, 2010; CDC Blood Lead Reference Value; EPA Lead and Copper Rule; CT DPH Private Well Testing.