National Drinking Water Database

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National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants

Bromide

Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

Bromide is a naturally occurring element found in surface waters and groundwater and contributes to the formation of toxic tap water disinfection byproducts.

Bromide Bromide is an ionic form of the naturally occurring element bromine. Bromide is a constituent of some groundwater and coastal waters due to saltwater intrusion; it contributes to the formation of toxic tap water disinfection byproducts. It is also a component of crude oil extraction brines, and is used in making fumigants, flameproofing agents, dyes and sanitizers.

	Detected	Found above health guidelines	Found above legal limit
States	16	-	-
Water utilities	152	-	-
People Served	34,728,169	-	-

Bromide Exposure by State

Water utilities in 16 states have reported detecting Bromide in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.

State	Water Suppliers with Bromide contamination
	Systems	Population
California	85	27,937,199
Massachusetts	9	2,417,651
Nevada	12	1,743,274
Wisconsin	5	817,611
North Carolina	6	796,799
Virginia	8	778,766
North Dakota	1	90,599
Minnesota	6	41,837
Illinois	6	33,926
Washington	5	33,868
Wyoming	3	30,025
Alaska	2	2,500
Maine	1	1,375
New York	1	1,200
Indiana	1	969
Idaho	1	570
Total	152	34,728,169

The Most Polluted Communities

152 water utilities reported detecting Bromide in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies

Ranked by highest average Bromide level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Sweetwater Authority Chula Vista, CA	177,630	11 of 11	2082.74 ppb (695.67 to 3974 ppb)
2	Venture Estates Mwc Hollister, CA	53	1 of 1	1300 ppb (1300 ppb)
3	Blue Diamond Water Company Las Vegas, NV	310	3 of 3	1025.5 ppb (86 to 2900 ppb)
4	Greenville Utilities Comm Greenville, NC	83,210	2 of 2	1000 ppb (40 to 1960 ppb)
5	Goleta Water Disrict Goleta, CA	74,000	1 of 1	790 ppb (790 ppb)
6	Liberty Park Water Association Huntington Beach, CA	100	8 of 8	763.75 ppb (400 to 1300 ppb)
7	Best Road Mwc Hollister, CA	172	2 of 2	650 ppb (500 to 800 ppb)
8	Strandquist Strandquist, MN	78	1 of 1	493 ppb (493 ppb)
9	Catalina Street Pump Owners Santa Ana, CA	130	2 of 2	480 ppb (470 to 490 ppb)
10	Diamond Park Mutual Water Co. Santa Ana, CA	200	2 of 2	460 ppb (450 to 470 ppb)

Testing Summary for Bromide

Are tests routinely required for Bromide by federal law?	No
Water suppliers reporting tests for Bromide (2004-2009):	288 of 47,576
Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009):	2.0 per year