Review Article
Free
Drinking Water in the United States: Implications of Water Safety, Access, and Consumption
- Anisha I. Patel1,Christina E. Hecht2,Angie Cradock3,Marc A. Edwards4 andLorrene D. Ritchie2
- View Affiliations and Author NotesHide Affiliations and Author Notes1Division of General Pediatrics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94305, USA2Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, California 94704, USA; email:[email protected]3Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA4Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
- Vol. 40:345-373(Volume publication date August 2020)
- Copyright © 2020 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
- View CitationHide Citation
Anisha I. Patel, Christina E. Hecht, Angie Cradock, Marc A. Edwards, Lorrene D. Ritchie. 2020. Drinking Water in the United States: Implications of Water Safety, Access, and Consumption.Annual Review Nutrition.40:345-373.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-122319-035707
Abstract
Recent water quality crises in the United States, and recognition of the health importance of drinking water in lieu of sugar-sweetened beverages, have raised interest in water safety, access, and consumption. This review uses a socioecological lens to examine these topics across the life course. We review water intakes in the United States relative to requirements, including variation by age and race/ethnicity. We describe US regulations that seek to ensure that drinking water is safe to consume for most Americans and discuss strategies to reduce drinking water exposure to lead, a high-profile regulated drinking water contaminant. We discuss programs, policies, and environmental interventions that foster effective drinking water access, a concept that encompasses key elements needed to improve water intake. We conclude with recommendations for research, policies, regulations, and practices needed to ensure optimal water intake by all in the United States and elsewhere.





