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National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants

Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)

Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

Beta particles are a form of radiation frequently associated with nuclear testing and radioactive mineral deposits. [read more]

	Detected	Found above health guidelines	Found above legal limit
States	31	18	18
Water utilities	4,792	399	399
People Served	65,656,160	4,034,453	4,034,453

Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) Exposure by State

Water utilities in 31 states have reported detecting Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.

State	Water Suppliers with Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) contamination		Water suppliers reporting Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) above health-based limits
	Systems	Population	Systems	Population
Texas	1,984	11,850,471	203	2,979,391
Idaho	61	451,925	19	202,248
New Mexico	367	1,428,207	47	188,825
Utah	186	2,066,998	8	150,458
Maryland	147	2,383,074	9	107,185
Illinois	65	795,591	13	102,242
Massachusetts	42	535,854	10	82,134
Virginia	237	2,915,024	11	78,968
Wisconsin	117	667,888	8	75,037
North Carolina	331	2,437,998	36	41,283
New York	449	2,625,731	16	8,589
Washington	71	393,661	2	5,664
Wyoming	6	6,435	1	5,600
Nevada	128	2,330,096	10	2,961
Pennsylvania	67	824,560	1	2,347
California	145	29,388,856	2	828
Indiana	72	256,714	1	378
New Hampshire	7	315	2	315
Ohio	11	1,216,620	0	0
Arkansas	191	998,205	0	0
Oregon	19	655,124	0	0
Alabama	9	604,134	0	0
Delaware	4	482,400	0	0
Connecticut	57	256,559	0	0
Rhode Island	4	38,493	0	0
New Jersey	1	22,770	0	0
Kentucky	3	19,087	0	0
Iowa	2	1,553	0	0
Montana	7	1,007	0	0
Missouri	1	722	0	0
Vermont	1	88	0	0
Total	4,792	65,656,160	399	4,034,453

The Most Polluted Communities

4,792 water utilities reported detecting Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies

Ranked by highest average Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Grappone Honda NH	40	1 of 1	44 pCi/L (44 pCi/L)
2	High Valley Water Users Association Vado, NM	71	2 of 2	39.38 pCi/L (38.85 to 39.9 pCi/L)
3	Ashley Hills North S/D Knightdale, NC	346	3 of 3	38.41 pCi/L (34.13 to 42.52 pCi/L)
4	Gerlach Gid Gerlach, NV	180	5 of 5	38.4 pCi/L (30 to 45 pCi/L)
5	Franklin Domestic Water Users Boise, ID	75	2 of 2	37.75 pCi/L (30.5 to 45 pCi/L)
6	Valley Estates Lubbock, TX	70	2 of 2	37.15 pCi/L (33.3 to 41 pCi/L)
7	Los Arboles Mhp Las Cruces, NM	330	1 of 1	37 pCi/L (37 pCi/L)
8	Mallards Crossing S/D Raleigh, NC	673	2 of 2	35.55 pCi/L (30.7 to 40.39 pCi/L)
9	Worton Chestertown, MD	805	1 of 1	35 pCi/L (35 pCi/L)
10	City of Anton Anton, TX	1,200	1 of 1	34.9 pCi/L (34.9 pCi/L)

Health Based Limits for Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)

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.	15 pCi/L

Testing Summary for Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)

Are tests routinely required for Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) by federal law?	Yes
Water suppliers reporting tests for Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) (2004-2009):	7,709 of 47,576
Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009):	0.4 per year