National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Desethylatrazine
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Desethylatrazine is a metabolite of the herbicide atrazine, an endocrine-disrupting herbicide used on corn, sugarcane and sorghum. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 2 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 3 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 129,795 |
- |
- |
Desethylatrazine Exposure by State
Water utilities in 2 states have reported detecting Desethylatrazine in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Desethylatrazine contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Iowa | 2 | 129,745 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 50 |
| Total | 3 | 129,795 |
The Most Polluted Communities
3 water utilities reported detecting Desethylatrazine in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Desethylatrazine level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaltenberg Seed Farms Inc Waunakee, WI | 50 | 2 of 2 | 0.34 ppb (0.31 to 0.37 ppb) |
| 2 | Manchester Water Supply Manchester, IA | 5,257 | 1 of 1 | 0.1 ppb (0.1 ppb) |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids Water Department Cedar Rapi, IA | 124,488 | 4 of 52 | 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.16 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Desethylatrazine
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) | The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 3 ppb |
Testing Summary for Desethylatrazine
| Are tests routinely required for Desethylatrazine by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Desethylatrazine (2004-2009): | 124 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.3 per year |