Is my tap water safe to drink in Connecticut?

It depends on your ZIP code and who lives in your home. CheckYourTap analyzes 120+ contaminants in your local water supply and shows which ones exceed health guidelines — not just legal limits. Many contaminants are legal but still pose health risks, especially for babies, pregnant women, elderly, and pets.

What contaminants are in Connecticut tap water?

Connecticut tap water commonly contains disinfection byproducts (haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes), lead from aging pipes, PFAS (forever chemicals), nitrates, arsenic, and radionuclides like radium. The specific contaminants and levels vary by water system — enter your ZIP code to see your local results.

How does CheckYourTap differ from EWG or other water quality databases?

CheckYourTap is the only water quality report personalized for your household composition. Tell us who lives in your home — babies, children, pregnant women, elderly, dogs, or cats — and we calculate adjusted safe levels for each person. A contaminant safe for adults may exceed guidelines for infants by 8x or more.

Is CheckYourTap free?

Yes, CheckYourTap is completely free. Enter your Connecticut ZIP code and household members to get a personalized water quality report with health risk assessments for 120+ contaminants.

Does CheckYourTap cover well water in Connecticut?

Yes. CheckYourTap covers both city water (public water systems) and private well water in Connecticut. Well water reports use USGS groundwater data and include geology-based risk factors for arsenic, uranium, and radon specific to your area.

Radionuclides

Gross Alpha in Connecticut Drinking Water

Gross Alpha has been detected in water systems serving 4,064 ZIP codes nationwide. Here is what you need to know about gross alpha in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.

What Is Gross Alpha?

Gross alpha activity is a screening measurement for alpha-emitting radioactive particles in water, including radium-226, radon, and uranium. It indicates the total level of alpha radiation rather than a single contaminant. The EPA maximum contaminant level is 15 picocuries per liter, excluding radon and uranium. Elevated gross alpha levels are associated with increased cancer risk, particularly bone and lung cancer.

Is Gross Alpha in Your Water?

Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if gross alpha is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.

Check Your ZIP Code

Health Effects of Gross Alpha

Increased cancer risk (bone, liver, lung, leukemia), bone damage, kidney damage, developmental effects

Safety Guidelines

Health Guideline

15 pCi/L

Source: EPA_Cancer_Risk_1e-4

Legal Limit (MCL)

15 pCi/L

EPA Maximum Contaminant Level

Where Does Gross Alpha Come From?

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), uranium mining/processing, nuclear facilities, phosphate fertilizers, granite rock formations

How to Reduce Gross Alpha in Your Water

1Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for radium and uranium reduction, as these are the most common contributors to elevated gross alpha readings.
2Use a cation exchange water softener to reduce radium, which is often the primary source of gross alpha activity in groundwater from sedimentary aquifers.
3If uranium is the primary contributor, an anion exchange resin system is more targeted, since dissolved uranium typically carries a negative charge in groundwater.
4Request a full radiological analysis from a certified laboratory to identify which specific radionuclides are contributing to the gross alpha reading.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Gross Alpha?

The safe level of gross alpha varies significantly depending on who is drinking the water. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for each member of your household:

Infants (under 1 year)

Toddlers (1-3 years)

Children (4-11 years)

Pregnant women

Elderly (65+)

Adults

Dogs

Cats

A contaminant level that is safe for an adult may exceed guidelines for an infant by 4-8x or more. Check your ZIP code to see personalized results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gross Alpha in my tap water?▾

Gross Alpha has been detected in water systems across 4,064 ZIP codes. Whether it's in your specific water depends on your local water system. Enter your CT ZIP code at CheckYourTap.com for a free, instant report.

What level of Gross Alpha is safe?▾

The safe level depends on who is drinking the water. The health guideline is 15 pCi/L, but infants, pregnant women, and pets may need much lower levels. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for 11 different household member types.

How do I remove Gross Alpha from my water?▾

Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for radium and uranium reduction, as these are the most common contributors to elevated gross alpha readings. Use a cation exchange water softener to reduce radium, which is often the primary source of gross alpha activity in groundwater from sedimentary aquifers. For a personalized consultation, contact Valiant Energy Solutions at (475) 557-5107.

Related Contaminants

Gross Beta

Check Water Quality by ZIP Code

Hartford 06103 New Haven 06510 Bridgeport 06604 Stamford 06901 Waterbury 06702 Norwalk 06850 Danbury 06810 Manchester 06040 View all cities →

View all contaminants in Connecticut water

About This Report

This water quality report is compiled from public records filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state health departments, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Contaminant levels are evaluated against EPA federal standards and health-based guidelines from leading environmental and public health organizations. CheckYourTap is a service of Valiant Energy Solutions, a Connecticut water quality and energy services company established in 1930.

EPA SDWISUSGS NWISEWG Tap Water DatabaseCA OEHHA Public Health GoalsWHO Drinking Water Guidelines

Last updated March 2026