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New London Dept. of Public Utilities - Groton, CT

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Serves 26,273 people - Test data available: 2004-2007

This drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. 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.	4 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.	0 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	11 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.	350 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*
Lead (total)Lead is a metal that enters water by corrosion of household plumbing systems, discharge of industrial pollution and erosion of natural deposits.	1.19 ppb 3.98 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
ToxapheneToxaphene is a highly toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative insecticide anticipated to be carcinogenic to people, and banned from use in the U.S. in 1990.	0.08 ppb 0.5 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 3 ppb
Combined Radium (-226 & -228)Radium is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.44 pCi/L 1.75 pCi/L	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 pCi/L	No 5 pCi/L
Radium-228Radium-228 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.44 pCi/L 1.75 pCi/L	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 pCi/L	No 5 pCi/L
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*
CopperCopper is a naturally occuring metal and drinking water contaminant that enters tap water by corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits.	59.24 ppb 147.58 ppb	No 300 ppb	No 1000 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.	3.09 ppb 4.5 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 ppb
EndrinEndrin is a banned organochlorine insecticide that is persistent, bioaccumulative, acutely toxic to vertebrates and associated with massive deaths of fish, birds and other wildlife.	<0.01 ppb <0.01 ppb	No 0.06 ppb	No 2 ppb
LindaneLindane is an insecticide still used in shampoo to control lice and scabies; it is a form of hexachlorocyclohexane, a highly toxic pesticide phased out of agricultural use in the U.S.	<0.01 ppb <0.01 ppb	No 0.03 ppb	No 0.2 ppb
MethoxychlorMethoxychlor is an endocrine-disrupting insecticide similar to DDT; banned in the U.S. in 2002, it was historically used on farm animals and in animal feed, lumber, gardens and certain crops.	<0.01 ppb 0.05 ppb	No 30 ppb	No 40 ppb
2,4-D2,4-D is a chlorophenol herbicide used on row crops, lawns and golf courses.	0.02 ppb 0.1 ppb	No 20 ppb	No 70 ppb
2,4,5-TP (Silvex)2,4,5-TP (Silvex) is an herbicide banned in 1985; it was formerly used in homes and on recreation areas, industrial sites, lumber yards, vacant lots, lawns and turf, and crops including rice.	0.02 ppb 0.12 ppb	No 10 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 - 57 chemicals

1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,2 Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, Alachlor (Lasso), Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Antimony (total), Arsenic (total), Atrazine, Benzene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Beryllium (total), Cadmium (total), Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chlordane, Chromium (total), cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Combined Uranium (mg/L), Cyanide, Dalapon, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Dinoseb, Diquat, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Mercury (total inorganic), Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), Nitrate, Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrite, o-Dichlorobenzene, Oxamyl (Vydate), p-Dichlorobenzene, Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Radium-226, Selenium (total), Simazine, Styrene, Tetrachloroethylene, Thallium (total), Toluene, Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, Vinyl chloride

Pollution Summary

11	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2007) Barium (total), Copper, Endrin, Lindane, Methoxychlor, 2,4-D, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), Lead (total), Toxaphene, Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-228
6	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Endrin, Lindane, Methoxychlor, 2,4-D, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), Toxaphene
5	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Copper, Lindane, 2,4-D, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), Lead (total)
5	Industrial Pollutants Barium (total), Lindane, Lead (total), Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-228
0	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts)
5	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Barium (total), Copper, Lead (total), Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-228
1	Unregulated Contaminants EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for these contaminants Lead (total)

EPA Violation Summary

Violation Category	Number of Violations
Reporting (click see violations)close	7
Violation Date of Violation Failure to report information to the public or state agency in the Consumer Confidence Report 2004/07/01 - 2004/11/05 Inadequate reporting of information to the public 2004/08/10 - 2004/11/05 Failure to report information to the public or state agency in the Consumer Confidence Report 2005/07/01 - 2005/11/28 Inadequate reporting of information to the public 2005/08/10 - 2005/11/28 Inadequate reporting of information to the public 2006/08/10 - 2006/10/23 Failure to report information to the public or state agency in the Consumer Confidence Report 2008/07/01 - 2008/12/09 Inadequate reporting of information to the public 2008/08/10 - 2008/12/09
Monitoring (click see violations)close	18
Violation Date of Violation Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2004/07/01 - 2004/09/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2004/07/01 - 2004/09/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2004/10/01 - 2004/12/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2004/10/01 - 2004/12/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2005/04/01 - 2005/06/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/04/01 - 2005/06/30 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 Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/10/01 - 2005/12/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Minor (Coliform bacteria) 2005/11/01 - 2005/11/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2005/10/01 - 2005/12/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2005/11/01 - 2005/11/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2005/10/01 - 2005/12/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Minor (Coliform bacteria) 2007/08/01 - 2007/08/31 Failure to monitor, Routine Minor (Coliform bacteria) 2007/09/01 - 2007/09/30 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Chlorine 2007/07/01 - 2007/09/30 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2007/08/01 - 2007/08/31 Failure to monitor or report, Routine/Repeat (Indicators of microbial or virus contamination) 2007/09/01 - 2007/09/30

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.