Water is a fundamental part of human life. Unfortunately, no one thinks about the possibility that the water that they are drinking may be contaminated. Within the past decade, however, a variety of pesticide compounds have been discovered in the nation's water supplies, often at concentrations that far exceed regulated limits. Because of this, nearly 14.1 million people in the United States routinely consume water that is contaminated with significant amounts of pesticides. Pesticides are chemicals that are used in agricultural and residential locations to control plant, insect, and animal infestations. Pesticide is a broad name given to categorize a more specific family of chemicals: Herbicides, Insecticides, Nematocides, and Fungicides. Pesticides get into water supplies through a variety of different means which include runoff, rain and snow absorption/melting into the soil, improperly disposed pesticides, improperly applied pesticides, and soil erosion caused by water runoff and/or wind. Pesticides are a heath threat not only because of their toxicity, but also because of their use in almost every facet of human life. Studies that have been conducted on the effects of pesticides on humans focus on two main aspects: acute toxicity of short‐term exposure and chronic toxicity resulting from long term exposure. Acute pesticide poisoning symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, stomach and intestinal upset, numbness of the extremities, spasms, convulsions, and heart attacks. Chronic pesticide poisoning has been is has been known to cause the following adverse health problems: cancer, liver and kidney damage, disorders of the nervous systems, damage to the immune system, thyroid changes, endocrine disruption, and birth defects. Attention has been focused on ways of preventing cases of contamination and on coming to a determination of what levels of pesticides are acceptable in drinking water supplies. Guidelines have been proposed with aims to keep pesticides at levels below those that are considered harmful to human life. These guidelines have been developed from the laboratory data that was discussed earlier and other known pesticide characteristics. Individual landowners are also encouraged to do what they can to prevent water supply contamination. Although steps have been taken since the 1970's to improve the quality of water in the United States, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done if public water supplies are to be cleaned of pesticide contamination. The alternatives to pesticide use seem as if they could be effective if utilized. Unfortunately, it seems that farmers, businesses and industries that use pesticides on a regular basis would not be prepared to risk the loss of crop production to simply protect the environment. The government must intervene and make regulations stricter than they are right now. Until that happens, the general public will continue to take for granted the most important natural resource that they have.