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Wales Water System - Brevig Mission, AK

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Serves 173 people - Test data available: 2004-2009

This drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. It is part of EWG's national database that includes 47,667 drinking water utilities and 20 million test results. Water utilities nationwide detected more than 300 pollutants between 2004 and 2009. More than half of these chemicals are unregulated, legal in any amount. Despite this widespread contamination, the federal government invests few resources to protecting rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater from pollution in the first place. The information below summarizes test results for this utility and lists potential health concerns.

	This Drinking Water System	National Average
Exceed Health GuidelinesTests showing chemicals at concentrations above health guidelines established by federal and state health agencies. These guidelines are typically set at a levels that pose no significant health risk.	10 chemicals	4
Health Standard ExceedencesChemicals detected at concentrations above the legal limit, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCLs) established by the U.S. EPA. Most MCLs are based on annual averages, so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.	6 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	15 chemicals	8
Tests ConductedThe total number of number of water quality tests conducted by water utilities and recorded in data provided by the state water agency.	408 tests	420

Contaminants Exceeding Health Guidelines

Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded	Testing History -Tested      -Detected      -Over Health Guidelines      -Over Legal Limit*
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)Total trihalomethanes constitute the sum of four disinfection byproducts: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform.	75.36 ppb 126 ppb	Yes 9.8 ppb	Yes 80 ppb
ChloroformChloroform is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	62.57 ppb 115 ppb	Yes 5.7 ppb	Yes 80 ppb
Total haloacetic acids (HAAs)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.	77.34 ppb 150 ppb	Yes 0.7 ppb	Yes 60 ppb
Dichloroacetic acidDichloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	42.59 ppb 111 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	Yes 60 ppb
Trichloroacetic acidTrichloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	32.5 ppb 81.8 ppb	Yes 20 ppb	Yes 60 ppb
Monochloroacetic acidMonochloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	17.79 ppb 73 ppb	Yes 70 ppb	Yes 60 ppb
BromodichloromethaneBromodichloromethane is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	10.32 ppb 18.7 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 80 ppb
DibromochloromethaneDibromochloromethane is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	3.91 ppb 23.8 ppb	Yes 0.4 ppb	No 80 ppb
Arsenic (total)Arsenic contaminates drinking water due to mining runoff, erosion of natural deposits, emissions from glass and electronics processing and the use of arsenical compounds as wood preservatives and pesticides.	0.51 ppb 1.88 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 10 ppb
BromoformBromoform is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	5.42 ppb 48.6 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 80 ppb
NOTE: Each dot in the above graph represents one month. * Water utilities are noted as exceeding the legal limit if any test is above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most MCLs are based on annual averages so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.

Other Detected Contaminants

Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded	Testing History -Tested      -Detected      -Over Health Guidelines      -Over Legal Limit*
Dibromoacetic acidDibromoacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	1.82 ppb 10.6 ppb	No	No 60 ppb
Monobromoacetic acidMonobromoacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	2.78 ppb 32.7 ppb	No	No 60 ppb
Barium (total)Barium is a mineral that enters drinking water through drilling and mining waste runoff, discharges from chemical industries and erosion of natural deposits.	5.81 ppb 5.81 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 ppb
Chromium (total)Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.	0.57 ppb 0.57 ppb	No 100 ppb	No 100 ppb
Selenium (total)Selenium is a naturally occurring element that contaminates water due to mining or petrolum refining, fly-ash from coal-burning power plants, and irrigation of arid farmland soils high in selenium.	0.87 ppb 0.87 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
NOTE: Each dot in the above graph represents one month. * Water utilities are noted as exceeding the legal limit if any test is above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most MCLs are based on annual averages so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.

Contaminants Not Detected - 65 chemicals

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, Antimony (total), Benzene, Beryllium (total), Bromobenzene, Bromochloroacetic acid, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, Cadmium (total), Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroethane, Chloromethane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, Cyanide, Dibromomethane, Dichlorodifluoromethane, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Ethylbenzene, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Hexachlorobutadiene, Isopropylbenzene, m- & p- Xylene, m-Dichlorobenzene, Mercury (total inorganic), Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), Mtbe, n-Butylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, Naphthalene, Nitrate, Nitrate & nitrite, o-Chlorotoluene, o-Dichlorobenzene, o-Xylene, p-Chlorotoluene, p-Dichlorobenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, sec-Butylbenzene, Styrene, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene, Thallium (total), Toluene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Vinyl chloride, Xylenes (total)

Pollution Summary

15	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2009) Barium (total), Chromium (total), Selenium (total), Monobromoacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Arsenic (total), Monochloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
2	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Selenium (total), Arsenic (total)
1	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Arsenic (total)
4	Industrial Pollutants Barium (total), Chromium (total), Selenium (total), Arsenic (total)
11	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) Monobromoacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Monochloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
4	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Barium (total), Chromium (total), Selenium (total), Arsenic (total)

EPA Violation Summary

Violation Category	Number of Violations
MCL and Treatment (click see violations)close	15
Violation Date of Violation Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2007/04/01 - 2007/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/04/01 - 2005/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2007/07/01 - 2007/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2007/07/01 - 2007/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2007/10/01 - 2007/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2007/10/01 - 2007/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2008/01/01 - 2008/03/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2008/01/01 - 2008/03/31 Maximum contaminant level, Monthly (Coliform bacteria) 2008/06/01 - 2008/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2008/04/01 - 2008/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2008/04/01 - 2008/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2008/07/01 - 2008/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2008/07/01 - 2008/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2008/10/01 - 2008/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2008/10/01 - 2008/12/31
Reporting (click see violations)close	3
Violation Date of Violation Failure to report information to the public or state agency in the Consumer Confidence Report 2004/07/01 - 2005/08/23 Failure to report information to the public or state agency in the Consumer Confidence Report 2005/07/01 - 2025/12/31 Failure to report information to the public or state agency in the Consumer Confidence Report 2006/07/01 - 2025/12/31
Monitoring (click see violations)close	80
Violation Date of Violation Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/02/01 - 2004/02/29 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2004/03/01 - 2004/03/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/03/01 - 2004/03/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2004/04/01 - 2004/04/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/04/01 - 2004/04/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2004/05/01 - 2004/05/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2004/06/01 - 2004/06/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/05/01 - 2004/05/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/06/01 - 2004/06/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2004/07/01 - 2004/07/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/07/01 - 2004/07/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/08/01 - 2004/08/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2004/07/01 - 2004/09/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2004/04/01 - 2004/06/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/09/01 - 2004/09/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2004/10/01 - 2004/10/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2004/10/01 - 2004/12/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/10/01 - 2004/10/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2004/11/01 - 2004/11/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/11/01 - 2004/11/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2004/12/01 - 2004/12/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2004/12/01 - 2004/12/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/02/01 - 2005/02/28 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/02/01 - 2005/02/28 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/03/01 - 2005/03/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/03/01 - 2005/03/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/04/01 - 2005/04/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2005/04/01 - 2005/06/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/05/01 - 2005/05/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/05/01 - 2005/05/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/06/01 - 2005/06/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/06/01 - 2005/06/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/07/01 - 2005/07/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/08/01 - 2005/08/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/08/01 - 2005/08/31 Failure to monitor, Repeat Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/09/01 - 2005/09/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/09/01 - 2005/09/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/10/01 - 2005/10/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/10/01 - 2005/10/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2005/10/01 - 2005/12/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2005/11/01 - 2005/11/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/11/01 - 2005/11/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/12/01 - 2005/12/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/01/01 - 2006/01/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2006/01/01 - 2006/03/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/01/01 - 2006/01/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/02/01 - 2006/02/28 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/02/01 - 2006/02/28 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/03/01 - 2006/03/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2006/01/01 - 2006/03/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2006/01/01 - 2006/03/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/03/01 - 2006/03/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/04/01 - 2006/04/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/05/01 - 2006/05/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/06/01 - 2006/06/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2006/04/01 - 2006/06/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/07/01 - 2006/07/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/08/01 - 2006/08/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2006/07/01 - 2006/09/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/07/01 - 2006/07/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/08/01 - 2006/08/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/09/01 - 2006/09/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/09/01 - 2006/09/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/10/01 - 2006/10/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/11/01 - 2006/11/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/10/01 - 2006/10/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2006/10/01 - 2006/12/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/12/01 - 2006/12/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/11/01 - 2006/11/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2006/12/01 - 2006/12/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2007/01/01 - 2007/01/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2006/04/01 - 2006/06/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2006/07/01 - 2006/09/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2006/04/01 - 2006/06/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2006/07/01 - 2006/09/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2007/01/01 - 2007/03/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2007/01/01 - 2007/01/31

Information on violations is drawn directly from EPA's national violations database in the Agency's Safe Drinking Water Information System. Analyses by others have raised questions about the quality of the information in EPA's database. For the purposes of this investigation, EWG is not showing below or including in our analyses, those violations for individual water suppliers that occurred on days for which the total number of violations assigned by EPA to that water supplier was greater than 20. This criteria was based on common characteristics of incorrect violations data as identified by water utilities, from a review of EPA's violations data by several hundred utilities prior to the release of EWG's investigation.