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Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) in Florida

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Total haloacetic acids refers to the sum of the concentrations of five related disinfection byproducts in a water sample: dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monochloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. [read more]

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Haloacetic acids (HAA5) are byproducts of chlorinated disinfectants added to drinking water to control pathogens. Five haloacetic acids are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hence the acronym HAA5. The five regulated HAAs are monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid, and dibromoacetic acid. Haloacetic acids are formed when chlorine and other disinfectants react with organic matter found in source water. Surface water pollution with animal waste, sewage, fertilizer, algae and sediment results in greater quantities of haloacetic acids in drinking water (Environmental Working Group (EWG) 2002). Two of the five HAAs regulated by EPA (dichloro- and trichloroacetic acid) have been shown to cause liver tumors in at least one type of laboratory animal (Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) 1996a, 1996b). Other HAAs, including those regulated by EPA, have been show to cause developmental defects in embryos grown outside the womb (whole embryo cell culture). Malformations included those of the neural tube, eye and heart (Hunter 1996). Haloacetic acids are genotoxic, which means that they induce mutations and DNA damage (Richardson 2007). Long-term exposure to haloacetic acids in drinking water above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) set by EPA could increase the risk of cancer (USEPA 2009b).

The Most Polluted Communities in Florida

1,551 water utilities reported detecting Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies

Ranked by highest average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Jones' Trailer Park Miami, FL	120	8 of 8	127.68 ppb (10.81 to 180 ppb)
2	Martin Correctional Institution Indiantown, FL	1,300	15 of 15	113.31 ppb (41.8 to 160 ppb)
3	Town of Cross City Cross City, FL	2,850	20 of 20	112.46 ppb (53.1 to 167.9 ppb)
4	Magnolia Village Edgewater, FL	394	14 of 14	99.97 ppb (14 to 169 ppb)
5	Harmony Cdd St. Cloud, FL	825	18 of 18	97.57 ppb (41.6 to 150 ppb)
6	Mayo Correctional Institution Mayo, FL	1,800	17 of 17	92.49 ppb (32.1 to 167.53 ppb)
7	Ancient Oaks RV Resort Okeechobee, FL	745	12 of 12	87.12 ppb (2.9 to 175.53 ppb)
8	Lanark Village (City of Carrabelle) Carrabelle, FL	1,625	20 of 20	86.88 ppb (34.35 to 171 ppb)
9	Columbia Correctional Institute Lake City, FL	2,335	17 of 17	84.43 ppb (11.3 to 160 ppb)
10	City of Fellsmere Fellsmere, FL	4,465	14 of 14	83.88 ppb (5.14 to 174 ppb)

Health Based Limits for Total haloacetic acids (HAAs)

Standard	Description	Level
One in one million (10-6) Cancer Risk	The concentration of a chemical in drinking water corresponding to an excess estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 1,000,000. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.	0.7 ppb
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.	60 ppb
One in ten thousand (10-4) Cancer Risk	The concentration of a chemical in drinking water corresponding to an excess estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 10,000. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.	70 ppb
Lifetime health-based limit, non-cancer risk	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for a lifetime of exposure. The Lifetime health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is based on exposure for a a 70-kg adult consuming 2 liters of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.	70 ppb
Drinking Water Equivalent Level	A lifetime exposure concentration protective of adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects, that assumes all of the exposure to a contaminant is from drinking water. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.	450 ppb
Children's health-based limit for 1-day exposure	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for up to one day of exposure. The One-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.	5200 ppb
Children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure. The Ten-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.	5200 ppb

Violation Summary for Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) in Florida

Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards in Florida since 2004

Violation Type	Number of Violations
Over maximum contaminant level, Average	599
Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule	295