Which Country Has the Best Drinking Water Standards? (Why the U.S. Isn’t #1 Yet)

Quick Answer: Nations like Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, and several EU countries consistently earn top marks for water safety and strict regulations.

The United States has recently set the world’s toughest PFAS drinking water limits, but widespread issues with aging pipes, lead contamination, and uneven compliance keep it from claiming the #1 spot.

By addressing these challenges, especially replacing old service lines and improving transparency, the U.S. could become the global leader within the next decade.

What Makes a Country’s Water “Best”?

There isn’t one single scorecard for clean water, but experts usually look at three factors:

1. Access & Reliability: How many people have safe and reliable water at home, free from contamination? (WHO/UNICEF) tracks this worldwide.

   
   

2. Regulations & Enforcement: How strict are the rules, and how consistently are they enforced? Examples include the EU Drinking Water Directive, the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act, and Japan’s standards.

   
   

3. Treatment Technology & Infrastructure: Do utilities use advanced methods (like ozone, activated carbon, membranes, or reuse systems)? And are aging pipes being replaced on schedule?

Countries That Lead the Way

Switzerland & the EU

• The EU Drinking Water Directive was updated in 2020 with some of the world’s strictest thresholds:

  
  

  • PFAS limited as a group (0.1 µg/L per compound, 0.5 µg/L total).

  • Pesticides capped at 0.1 µg/L each.

    
    

• Switzerland applies these rules and adds robust groundwater protections.

👉 Why they’re leaders: They prioritize prevention at the source, setting ultra-low chemical limits before water reaches consumers.

Singapore

• Famous for “NEWater”, its advanced reuse program.

  
  

• Uses cutting-edge membranes, ozone, and UV to recycle water to safe drinking standards.

  
  

• Public engagement is strong—Singapore even launched a beer brewed with purified recycled water.

👉 Why it stands out: Combines world-class technology with strong public trust.

Japan

• National law covers 51 water quality parameters.

  
  

• Requires residual disinfectant at taps to prevent microbial risks.

  
  

• Municipalities like Tokyo often go beyond the national minimums.

👉 Why it ranks high: Broad, proactive testing with high frequency.

The U.S.: Strong Rules, Weak Spots

Where America Leads

In April 2024, the EPA set enforceable PFAS limits that are stricter than anywhere else in the world:

• 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA & PFOS.

  
  

• 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA, & GenX.

  
  

• A hazard index to regulate PFAS mixtures.

👉 On PFAS, the U.S. is the global frontrunner.

Where It Falls Short

• About 9.2 million lead service lines are still in use.

  
  

• The new Lead and Copper Rule Improvements mandate full replacement within 10 years, but funding and workforce capacity are big challenges.

  
  

• In 2022, over 18,000 water systems had violations, including thousands tied to health risks.

👉 Bottom line: America’s rules are tough, but many utilities struggle to meet them consistently.

How the U.S. Can Reach #1

1. Get Rid of Lead Pipes Faster

   
   

   • Fully enforce the 10-year deadline.

   • Require complete replacements, not partial.

   • Provide certified filters until replacements are complete.

   • Proof of success: Newark, NJ, and Denver Water have already shown it’s possible.

   
   

2. Help Small & Rural Water Systems

   
   

   • Expand shared operator programs and mobile labs.

   • Offer grants and incentives to consolidate small systems.

   • Data shows most violations come from these smaller systems.

   
   

3. Improve Transparency

   
   

   • Expand EPA’s ECHO dashboard to cover all utilities.

   • Require real-time online water-quality updates.

   
   

4. Protect Water at the Source

   
   

   • Strengthen limits on agricultural runoff and pesticides.

   • Follow the Swiss approach of strict precautionary limits.

   
   

5. Build Public Confidence

   
   

   • Adopt Singapore-style education campaigns.

   • Provide point-of-use filters during infrastructure projects.

U.S. Cities Setting the Standard

• Newark, NJ – Replaced 23,000+ lead pipes in less than three years.

  
  

• Denver, CO – Lead Reduction Program is removing all lead lines while providing free filters.

  
  

• Milwaukee, WI & Detroit, MI – Leveraging federal funding to speed up pipe replacements.

  
  

• Henrico County, VA – Won AWWA’s 2025 “Best Tasting Tap Water”.

  
  

• Emporia, KS – Took home best municipal water at the 2025 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting.

  
  

States With the Biggest Challenges

Illinois, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York have the largest number of lead service lines, with Chicago and Cleveland facing especially heavy replacement efforts.

FAQs

Which country has the best water standards? Switzerland, Singapore, and Japan are top-tier. The U.S. leads on PFAS rules but not overall.

Is U.S. tap water safe? Generally, yes, but it varies by system. Check your local report and the EPA dashboard.

Which U.S. cities stand out? Newark, Denver, Henrico County, and Emporia.

The United States isn’t #1 yet in global drinking water standards. But it’s close, thanks to groundbreaking PFAS rules. With faster lead pipe replacement, stronger support for small systems, EU-style transparency, and smarter source protection, America could become the undisputed leader in clean water by the 2030s.