National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Foaming agents (surfactants)
Status: For this chemical EPA has established a non-enforceable guideline called a "secondary standard," regulating it for aesthetic or cosmetic concerns (taste, odor, tooth discoloration, etc.)
Foaming agents (surfactants) are detergents or detergent-like substances used as cleaning agents in industrial and consumer goods such as personal care products; they are also used as inert ingredients in pesticides.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 8 |
2 |
2 |
| Water utilities | 142 |
3 |
3 |
| People Served | 5,196,857 |
104,155 |
104,155 |
Foaming agents (surfactants) Exposure by State
Water utilities in 8 states have reported detecting Foaming agents (surfactants) in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Foaming agents (surfactants) contamination | Water suppliers reporting Foaming agents (surfactants) above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| Utah | 33 | 380,634 | 1 | 70,000 |
| Kentucky | 50 | 1,866,808 | 2 | 34,155 |
| Nevada | 3 | 1,184,863 | 0 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 24 | 832,662 | 0 | 0 |
| Alabama | 21 | 433,431 | 0 | 0 |
| California | 1 | 280,832 | 0 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 9 | 214,717 | 0 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2,910 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 142 | 5,196,857 | 3 | 104,155 |
The Most Polluted Communities
142 water utilities reported detecting Foaming agents (surfactants) in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Foaming agents (surfactants) level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlinghaus Property Burlington, KY | 36 | 1 of 2 | 905 ppb (0 to 1810 ppb) |
| 2 | St. George City Saint George, UT | 70,000 | 1 of 1 | 730 ppb (730 ppb) |
| 3 | Senator G.W. Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospit Glen Gardner, NJ | 550 | 1 of 1 | 360 ppb (360 ppb) |
| 4 | Brigham City Elwood, UT | 18,500 | 1 of 1 | 328.75 ppb (328.75 ppb) |
| 5 | Winchester Municipal Utilities Winchester, KY | 34,119 | 1 of 3 | 290 ppb (0 to 870 ppb) |
| 6 | South River W Dept South River, NJ | 14,000 | 1 of 1 | 220 ppb (220 ppb) |
| 7 | Rockville Pipeline Co Rockville, UT | 195 | 1 of 1 | 190 ppb (190 ppb) |
| 8 | Centerville City Centerville, UT | 16,000 | 1 of 1 | 180 ppb (180 ppb) |
| 9 | Kanarraville Water System Kanarraville, UT | 350 | 1 of 1 | 170 ppb (170 ppb) |
| 10 | Kennecott - Zone A Ro Bingham Canyon, UT | 0 | 3 of 3 | 163.33 ppb (80 to 250 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Foaming agents (surfactants)
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations | A National Secondary Drinking Water Regulation is a non-enforceable guideline regarding contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects (such as taste, odor, or color). Some states choose to adopt them as enforceable standards. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 500 ppb |
Testing Summary for Foaming agents (surfactants)
| Are tests routinely required for Foaming agents (surfactants) by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Foaming agents (surfactants) (2004-2009): | 1,205 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.3 per year |
Violation Summary for Foaming agents (surfactants)
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Foaming agents (surfactants) since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 0 |
| Monitoring Violations | 6 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |