About TownVitals

We collect data from authoritative government sources to ensure reliability:

• Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs)

  We collect water quality data from 2024 Consumer Confidence Reports, which detail 2023 water quality levels. CCRs are required annual reports that water systems must deliver to customers by July 1st each year.

• EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)

  We access the EPA's database of public water systems, which includes compliance records, violation histories, and enforcement actions for public water systems nationwide.

• CDC's My Water's Fluoride Database

  We incorporate fluoridation status data from the CDC's My Water's Fluoride database, which provides information about the fluoride levels in community water systems.

• EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO)

  We utilize the EPA's ECHO database to identify and track Serious Violators - water systems with significant or repeated violations that require priority attention from regulators.

Our data processing methodology ensures accuracy and reliability:

• Structured Data Collection

  We use API integrations where available and custom-built tools for collecting water quality data from official sources.

• Data Validation

  We implement error handling and validation checks to ensure data integrity, with specific attention to water system identifiers, violation details, and contaminant measurements.

• Standardization & Normalization

  We convert measurements to consistent units (e.g., converting lead levels from mg/L to ppb) and normalize data formats to enable accurate comparisons across different water systems.

Our data update schedule follows the availability of official information:

• Annual updates from Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs), released by July 1st each year
• Quarterly updates based on EPA SDWIS data releases
• Updates to fluoridation data as provided by the CDC
• Regular updates on Serious Violators from EPA's ECHO database

Each water quality report includes a "Last Provided Update" timestamp and information about the next expected EPA data release.

• Contaminant Violations Tracking

  Comprehensive analysis of violations reported by water systems, including health-based violations, monitoring violations, and reporting violations, with clear explanations of each violation type and its potential implications.

• Serious Violators Identification

  We highlight water systems designated as Serious Violators by the EPA, which have significant or repeated violations requiring priority attention from regulators. This helps you quickly identify systems with concerning compliance histories.

• Lead Level Analysis

  Detailed information about lead levels in drinking water, with clear indicators showing how measurements compare to the EPA action level of 15 ppb, helping you understand potential risks.

• Water System Information

  Details about your local water systems, including population served, water source types, and contact information for direct communication with your water provider.

• Historical Trend Analysis

  Visual representations of water quality trends over time, including 2-year, 5-year, and all-time views of violations, helping you identify patterns and improvements in your local water quality.

• Status Indicators

  Clear visual indicators for water quality status, including color-coded displays for lead levels and violation severity, making it easy to quickly assess your water quality situation.

• Multi-System Comparison

  Tools to compare multiple water systems serving your area, allowing you to see differences in violation histories, contaminant levels, and overall compliance.

• Address-Based Lookup

  Our platform is the only application that allows you to enter your address to identify your water provider with precision. We've developed a proprietary system using comprehensive water service boundary data, enabling accurate identification of which water system serves your specific address - eliminating the guesswork that other services require. This boundary-based approach ensures you receive information about the exact water system that supplies your home, even in areas served by multiple overlapping systems.

• Plain-Language Explanations

  Technical water quality data translated into clear, accessible language, helping you understand what the numbers mean without requiring specialized knowledge.

• Contaminant Information

  Detailed explanations of common contaminants, including what they are, potential health effects, and typical sources, helping you better understand water quality reports and violations.

• Real-Time Advisory Tracking

  We monitor and track active boil water advisories across the United States, providing up-to-date information about water safety notices in your community. Our system is updated daily to ensure you have the latest information about potential risks to your drinking water.

• Interactive Advisory Map

  Our interactive map displays active boil water notices across the country, allowing you to quickly identify affected areas and access detailed information about each advisory, including the cause, start date, and affected locations.

• Safety Guidelines

  When an advisory is active, we provide clear, actionable safety guidelines including proper water boiling procedures, affected uses, and special precautions for high-risk groups. Our information is aligned with CDC recommendations to ensure your safety.