National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Potassium-40 (total)
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Potassium-40 is a radioactive isotope of potassium released from natural deposits, nuclear testing, and industrial and medical instruments.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 3 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 5 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 86,388 |
- |
- |
Potassium-40 (total) Exposure by State
Water utilities in 3 states have reported detecting Potassium-40 (total) in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Potassium-40 (total) contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 84,850 |
| New York | 1 | 1,501 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 37 |
| Total | 5 | 86,388 |
The Most Polluted Communities
5 water utilities reported detecting Potassium-40 (total) in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Potassium-40 (total) level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tall Oaks Mhp Mountain Home, AR | 37 | 1 of 1 | 58 pCi/L (58 pCi/L) |
| 2 | Watchtower Bible Tract Society Patterson, NY | 1,501 | 10 of 17 | 53.01 pCi/L (0 to 152 pCi/L) |
| 3 | Fond DU Lac Waterworks Fond Du Lac, WI | 42,000 | 3 of 3 | 4.94 pCi/L (4.13 to 5.6 pCi/L) |
| 4 | Oak Creek Waterworks Oak Creek, WI | 31,497 | 1 of 1 | 3.5 pCi/L (3.5 pCi/L) |
| 5 | Hudson Waterworks Hudson, WI | 11,353 | 1 of 1 | 0.96 pCi/L (0.96 pCi/L) |
Testing Summary for Potassium-40 (total)
| Are tests routinely required for Potassium-40 (total) by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Potassium-40 (total) (2004-2008): | 5 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2008): | 0.9 per year |