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JEA - Jacksonville, FL

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Serves 800,000 people - Test data available: 2004-2008

This drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 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.	12 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.	1 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	23 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.	6,946 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.	47.97 ppb 127.65 ppb	Yes 9.8 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.	13.26 ppb 35.2 ppb	Yes 0.7 ppb	No 60 ppb
Radium-226Radium-226 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.47 pCi/L 1 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
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalateDi(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is a pollutant from rubber and industrial chemical factories and a leachate from PVC pipes; it is classified by EPA as a probable human carcinogen.	0.31 ppb 3.47 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 6 ppb
Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium)Alpha particles are a form of radiation associated with radioactive mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	0.65 pCi/L 2.2 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 15 pCi/L
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.	0.23 ppb 3.4 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
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane is a persistent pesticide and groundwater contaminant associated with male sterility and severe reproductive toxicity; historically used as a soil fumigant on bananas and pineapples; banned by EPA in early 1980s.	<0.01 ppb 0.02 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 0.2 ppb
Lead (total)Lead is a metal that enters water by corrosion of household plumbing systems, discharge of industrial pollution and erosion of natural deposits.	0.77 ppb 5.2 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
Cadmium (total)Cadmium is a metal used in the steel and plastic industries; it is released from corrosion of galvanized pipes, runoff from metal refineries, waste batteries and paints; contamination from fertilizers; and erosion of natural deposits.	0.01 ppb 0.2 ppb	Yes 0.04 ppb	No 5 ppb
Ethylene dibromide (EDB)Ethylene dibromide is a a pollutant from petroleum refineries that was formerly used as gasoline additive and a pesticide suspended from use by EPA in 1984.	<0.01 ppb 0.03 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 0.05 ppb
PentachlorophenolPentachlorophenol is a carcinogenic pollutant discharged from wood preserving factories.	<0.01 ppb 0.03 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 1 ppb
Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)Dichloromethane is a widely-used paint remover, solvent and metal degreasing agent; it is discharged into the environment from the manufacture of chemicals, textiles, electronics, metals and plastics, pharmaceuticals and pesticides.	<0.01 ppb 0.14 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 5 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*
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.	4.96 ppb 50 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
NitrateNitrate enters drinking water sources from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits; it is also emitted by chemical, petrochemical and metal-finishing industries.	0.06 ppm 1.68 ppm	No 10 ppm	No 10 ppm
Antimony (total)Antimony is a metal that enters water from petroleum refinery pollution, fire retardants, ceramics, electronics and solder.	0.09 ppb 0.5 ppb	No 5.6 ppb	No 6 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.	20.73 ppb 27.2 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 ppb
Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipateDi(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate is a placticizer and solvent released as a pollutant from industrial chemical factories, sewage treatment facilities and iron foundries.	<0.01 ppb 0.09 ppb	No 30 ppb	No 400 ppb
Oxamyl (Vydate)Oxamyl is a neurotoxic insecticide used on cotton, fruit and vegetable crops (apples, potatoes and tomatoes).	<0.01 ppb 0.26 ppb	No 10 ppb	No 200 ppb
NitriteNitrite is a chemical that enters water from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits.	<0.01 ppm <0.01 ppm	No 1 ppm	No 1 ppm
CyanideCyanide is a chemical used in mining and steel/metal, plastic, and pesticide manufacturing; it is applied to roads as road salts, and small quantities occur naturally in some plants.	0.5 ppb 3.25 ppb	No 80 ppb	No 200 ppb
Chromium (total)Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.	0.08 ppb 1.4 ppb	No 100 ppb	No 100 ppb
Beryllium (total)Beryllium is a metal associated with metal refineries and combustion of fossil fuels, especially coal burning; it is released into the environment from electrical, aerospace and defense industries.	<0.01 ppb 0.1 ppb	No 1 ppb	No 4 ppb
Thallium (total)Thallium is a highly toxic metal that contaminates the environment due to leaching from ore-processing sites, discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories and historical use as rodenticide	<0.01 ppb 0.1 ppb	No 0.1 ppb	No 2 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 - 46 chemicals

1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-d, Alachlor (Lasso), Atrazine, Benzene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chlordane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Dalapon, Dinoseb, Diquat, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylbenzene, Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Lindane, Mercury (total inorganic), Methoxychlor, Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene, Picloram, Radium-228, Simazine, Styrene, Tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, Vinyl chloride, Xylenes (total)

Pollution Summary

23	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2008) Barium (total), Chromium (total), Cyanide, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Antimony (total), Beryllium (total), Thallium (total), Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Oxamyl (Vydate), Arsenic (total), Cadmium (total), Lead (total), Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Pentachlorophenol, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Radium-226
8	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Cyanide, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Oxamyl (Vydate), Arsenic (total), 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Ethylene dibromide (EDB)
9	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Cyanide, Nitrate, Nitrite, Antimony (total), Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Arsenic (total), Cadmium (total), Lead (total), Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)
19	Industrial Pollutants Barium (total), Chromium (total), Cyanide, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Antimony (total), Beryllium (total), Thallium (total), Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Arsenic (total), Cadmium (total), Lead (total), Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Pentachlorophenol, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Radium-226
4	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) Cadmium (total), Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
10	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Barium (total), Chromium (total), Cyanide, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Arsenic (total), Lead (total), Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Radium-226
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
MCL and Treatment (click see violations)close	1
Violation Date of Violation Maximum contaminant level, Acute (Coliform bacteria) 2006/10/01 - 2006/10/31
Monitoring (click see violations)close	1
Violation Date of Violation Failure to monitor, Repeat Major (Coliform bacteria) 2008/10/01 - 2008/10/31

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.