It is no secret that the water quality in Southern Nevada is classified as “very hard” — 267 parts per million or 16 grains per gallon, which is 6 grains per gallon higher hardness than “hard” water. Most of this hardness is caused by calcium and magnesium in the Colorado River, which feeds into Lake Mead. About 90 percent of the valley’s water comes from Lake Mead. The rest comes from underground aquifers. 

Most Las Vegas residents use water softeners to reduce overall hardness. But what about the rest of the water quality? After all, the water from your household tap travels through miles of pipes, aquifers, and treatment systems before it ever touches a glass. 

According to the Las Vegas Valley Water District and Southern Nevada Water Authority, valley drinking water meets or surpasses all of the standards contained in the Safe Drinking Water Act, which is set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and monitored by The Nevada Bureau of Safe Drinking Water. 

However, it’s also important to consider three things about the water coming into your home. First, water testing and monitoring are done at a treatment facility, which means that any measures do not consider anything that might occur to the water before it reaches your home. Second, all water safety standards are malleable, which means they are subject to change. And third, not all consumer standards would be as low as EPA standards if they knew what was in their water.

For example, in 2023, agencies and bureaus looked at 29 more PFAS compounds and lithium in drinking water that had never been considered before. And, despite generally meeting water quality standards, drinking water systems sometimes fall out of compliance and are updated quarterly. Twenty-five in the second quarter of 2024, in fact. 

Water quality is best measured at home. 

If you want to know more about your water quality, consider investing in a drinking water test kit. These kits usually range from affordable strips that test for 17 different contaminants, ranging from lead to bacteria, to mail-in, lab-tested results that screen for 116 contaminants, including bacteria, protozoa, HPC, and algae.

You can conduct your own inspections too. Southern Nevada water tends to have a chlorine taste, residual from the treatment plants. New PVC installation can cause a temporary plastic taste. Sewer or rotten egg smells might reveal drain or water heater issues. Water clarity is sometimes impacted when the district draws upon more well water (water not tested at the treatment plant). And so on.

But even with these onsite inspections and self-administered or lab-supported tests, water drinkers are subjected to all sorts of additives. This includes, although minuscule, water pollutants from pharmaceuticals that periodically spike in the Las Vegas Valley. Even officials said treatment plants are a start, not a final barrier.

Six water filtration methods improve water quality. 

While many people choose water filters to improve the taste or appearance of tap water, some systems can also remove harmful contaminants. While Flush It doesn’t recommend one water softener or another, we do provide homeowners with a few helpful tips, based on our experience and information from Consumer Reports. There are five primary types of water filter systems, some of which require no installation. 

Water Filter Pitchers. While not comprehensive enough to reduce the presence of many contaminants, some beat out bottled water when comparing environmental impact and cost effectiveness. Top brands generally include Brita, Our, Kirkland, and ZeroWater. 

Under Sink Water Filters. Under sink water filters are installed underneath the sink, delivering incredible filtration performance. Many reduce up to 99 percent of more than 50 contaminants without affecting water flow. Top brands include Aquasana, iSpring, and 3M Aqua-Pure.

Reverse Osmosis Filters. Also installed under the sink, reverse osmosis filters use water pressure to remove contaminants. By forcing the water through filters, most contaminants — up to 99.9% of them, including fluoride, chlorine, and heavy metals — are removed. Top brands include APEC Water Systems, Waterdrop, and Culligan. 

Faucet Filters. Since faucets work by passing water through a filter housing, they can reduce the amount of chlorine and heavy metals. They are usually easier to install than under-the-sink models. Once installed, the filters must be changed every 200 gallons. Top brands include Brita, Pur, and Culligan.  

Countertop Filters. Another solution that doesn’t require much assembly or installation is a countertop system. Some do not need to be hooked up to the plumbing because they are designed to pour water into the system. Like pitchers, they can only filter as much water as they can hold, but they filter as much as 15 times more than pitchers. Top brands include Simpure, Aquasana, and Dreo.

It’s essential to research any and all water filtration systems and consider several factors, including the filter lifespan, water flow, upkeep cost, and overall performance in terms of filtering contaminants. But the good news is that no matter what water filtration system you choose, it will provide better water quality than no filter.

Need more water quality advice or help with installation? Schedule a service call with Flush It six days a week.