The Metabolic Link

What's in Your Tap Water? Contaminants, Filtration, and How to Test It | Johnny Pujol | The Metabolic Link Ep. 91

Mar 24, 2026
Johnny Pujol, a water chemist and founder of Tap Score, helps people test and understand drinking water. The conversation tours contaminants like uranium, arsenic, PFAS, and how testing methods and sample types matter. It covers differences between tap, bottled, and well water, filtration trade-offs, and how labs and local data shape recommendations.
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ANECDOTE

How Johnny Turned Into A Water Chemist

  • Johnny shifted from economics to water chemistry after discovering electrochemistry and water's complex inorganic and organic chemistry.
  • He retrained via a postbac, built water-testing kits, and founded TapScore to make testing accessible.
INSIGHT

Regulations Trade Health For Practicality

  • Tap water standards balance health ideals with engineering and cost constraints rather than requiring zero contamination.
  • Johnny Pujol explains lead's 15 ppb action level is pragmatic because eliminating all lead would require replacing widespread plumbing, making zero unrealistic.
INSIGHT

Well Owners Bear Full Water Responsibility

  • Private wells carry more responsibility and unique risks because no utility regulates them or disinfects by default.
  • Johnny warns well owners face microbiological risks, need to maintain disinfection (UV or chlorine), and must test and manage their wells themselves.
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