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Number of different pollutants found in American tap water, according to an analysis of more than 20 million records obtained from state water officials, says the Environmental Working Group, which posits that almost 54 million Americans have polluted tap water.

The EWG rated the water utilities in 100 cities with a population of more than 250,000, and based on those findings, the top three water utilities are Arlington Water Utilities (Arlington, Texas); Providence Water (Providence, Rhode Island); and Fort Worth Water Department (Fort Worth, Texas). The bottom three are Emerald Coast Water Utility (Pensacola, Florida); City of Riverside Public Utilities (Riverside, California); Las Vegas Valley Water District (Las Vegas). Download a PDF of the full list.

If you want to find out what's in your water, use the EWG's database on drinking-water quality, which covers 48,000 communities in 45 states and Washington, D.C. Also learn how to decipher the water report you get from your utility and check out our buyer's guide to water filters. Look for our new report on water filters, scheduled for the May 2010 issue of Consumer Reports.

—Steven H. Saltzman