Nine states recently filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over a rule the federal agency published in June that, according to an October 2, 2008, report from the Associated Press, "exempts the discharge of pollutants in 'transfer waters' from permitting requirements." The states say the ruling could contaminate supplies of drinking water and harm fisheries.

Reading the rest of the story might raise concerns about how safe your drinking water is. If bottled water is not an option for you—be it for financial or environmental reasons—you might consider getting a carafe, faucet-mounted, countertop, undersink, reverse-osmosis, or whole-house type water filter.

Learn more about drinking water in our review of water filters, find out how to decipher the water-quality report you get from your water company, and refer to our Ratings of more than two dozen models (available to subscribers).

And be sure to watch this video of Home Editor Bob Markovich's recent appearance with Harry Smith on CBS' The Morning Show, during which they discussed drinking water and water filters.