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Metropolitan Utilities District - Omaha, NE

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Serves 506,420 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 Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. 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.	20 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.	4 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	42 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.	53,301 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*
ManganeseManganese is a naturally occurring element released from mineral deposits as well as industrial use.	472.69 ppb 2000 ppb	Yes 50 ppb	Yes 50 ppb
Nitrate & nitriteNitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, leaching from septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits.	3.06 ppm 12 ppm	Yes 10 ppm	Yes 10 ppm
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)Total trihalomethanes constitute the sum of four disinfection byproducts: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform.	16.57 ppb 101.86 ppb	Yes 9.8 ppb	Yes 80 ppb
AtrazineAtrazine is an endocrine-disrupting herbicide used on corn, sugarcane and sorghum; it is associated with adverse reproductive effects and toxicity to the immune system.	0.25 ppb 4.73 ppb	Yes 0.15 ppb	Yes 3 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.	3.98 ppb 19.4 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 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.	10.99 ppb 79.13 ppb	Yes 5.7 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.	1.42 ppb 7.24 ppb	Yes 0.4 ppb	No 80 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.	14.93 ppb 39.88 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 60 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.	5.1 ppb 9.5 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 10 ppb
RadonRadon is a radioactive breakdown product of radium and uranium in soil, rock and water; it is often present in groundwater.	308.81 pCi/L 520.5 pCi/L	Yes 1.5 pCi/L	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
Radium-226Radium-226 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.43 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 5 pCi/L
Combined Uranium (mg/L)Uranium is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed uranium ore is used for power generation and weapons manufacture.	6.47 ppb 8.8 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 30 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.	1.42 ppb 12.5 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
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.	17.05 ppb 27.87 ppb	Yes 0.7 ppb	No 60 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.	0.04 ppb 0.83 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
Radium-228Radium-228 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.41 pCi/L 3.5 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
Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium)Alpha particles are a form of radiation associated with radioactive mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	3.21 pCi/L 4.65 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
Heptachlor epoxideHeptachlor epoxide is a beakdown product of heptachlor, a highly toxic and carcinogenic termiticide banned from most applications in the U.S. since 1988.	<0.01 ppb 0.06 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
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 0.01 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
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 0.15 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*
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.	4.55 ppb 15.2 ppb	No 20 ppb	No 60 ppb
Bromochloroacetic acidBromochloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	4.61 ppb 9.51 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
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 ppb 1.71 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.	130.39 ppb 220.5 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 ppb
MetolachlorMetolachlor is an herbicide applied on corn, soybeans, peanuts, cotton and pod crops.	0.04 ppb 1.05 ppb	No 700 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
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.	9.53 ppb 59.18 ppb	No 70 ppb	No 60 ppb
Chromium (total)Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.	3.27 ppb 16 ppb	No 100 ppb	No 100 ppb
Combined Uranium (pCi/L)Uranium is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed ore is used for power generation and weapons manufacture.	5.53 pCi/L 8.45 pCi/L	No	No 15 pCi/L
Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium)Alpha particles are a form of radiation associated with mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	7.72 pCi/L 11.7 pCi/L	No	No 15 pCi/L
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.	0.56 ppb 7.88 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
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.	5.39 ppb 58.5 ppb	No 300 ppb	No 1000 ppb
NitriteNitrite is a chemical that enters water from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits.	0.01 ppm 0.09 ppm	No 1 ppm	No 1 ppm
o-Xyleneo-Xylene is a petroleum-derived solvent used in the printing, rubber, and leather industries; it is also used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and an ingredient in paints and varnishes.	0.13 ppb 9.5 ppb	No 10000 ppb	No 10000 ppb
EthylbenzeneEthylbenzene is a pollutant from petroleum refineries and industrial chemical factories; it is also used to make plastics, and may be present as an impurity in some insecticides.	0.03 ppb 1.6 ppb	No 300 ppb	No 700 ppb
m- & p- XyleneXylene is a petroleum-derived solvent used in the printing, rubber, and leather industries, and as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and an ingredient in paints and varnishes.	0.15 ppb 2.4 ppb	No 10000 ppb	No 10000 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.	0.06 ppb 0.71 ppb	No	No 60 ppb
DibromomethaneDibromomethane is an unregulated byproduct of tap water disinfection and a manufactured chemical used in chemical synthesis and as an ingredient in fire extinguishing fluids.	0.03 ppb 2.38 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
ChloroethaneChloroethane is a volatile solvent used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, perfumes, insecticides and gasoline additives; it is also used as a refrigerant and anesthetic, and may form in tap water as a result of chlorination.	<0.01 ppb 0.38 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
ChloromethaneChloromethane is a naturally occuring chemical that forms during combustion of plant material; it may be released from the manufacture of silicone, rubber and pesticides, and also forms as a byproduct of water disinfection.	<0.01 ppb 0.1 ppb	No 30 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
StyreneStyrene is a pollutant from plastics, rubber and other industrial chemical factories and from landfill leachate.	<0.01 ppb 0.42 ppb	No 100 ppb	No 100 ppb
m-Xylenem-Xylene is a petroleum-derived solvent used in the printing, rubber, and leather industries; it is also used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and an ingredient in paints and varnishes.	0.03 ppb 1.35 ppb	No 10000 ppb	No 10000 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.	1.37 ppm 1.37 ppm	No 10 ppm	No 10 ppm
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 - 106 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, 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin), 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-d, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, Alachlor (Lasso), Aldicarb, Aldicarb sulfone, Aldicarb sulfoxide, Aldrin, Antimony (total), Aroclor 1016, Aroclor 1221, Aroclor 1232, Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1248, Aroclor 1254, Aroclor 1260, Asbestos, Benzene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Beryllium (total), Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, Butachlor, Butylate (Sutan), Cadmium (total), Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chlordane, Chlorpyriphos, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Cyanazine (Bladex), Cyanide, Dalapon, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Dicamba, Dichlorodifluoromethane, Dieldrin, Dinoseb, Diquat, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Fonofos (dyfonate), Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorobutadiene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Isopropylbenzene, Lindane, m-Dichlorobenzene, Mercury (total inorganic), Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Metribuzin, Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), Mtbe, n-Butylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, Naphthalene, o-Chlorotoluene, o-Dichlorobenzene, Oxamyl (Vydate), p-Chlorotoluene, p-Dichlorobenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, Paraquat, Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Propachlor, sec-Butylbenzene, Silver (total), Simazine, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene, Thallium (total), Toluene, Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Trifluralin, Vinyl chloride

Pollution Summary

42	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2008) Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Chromium (total), Copper, Lead (total), Manganese, Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Metolachlor, Atrazine, Heptachlor epoxide, Chloromethane, Chloroethane, Dibromomethane, Monochloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Monobromoacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Bromochloroacetic acid, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Ethylbenzene, m-Xylene, Styrene, o-Xylene, m- & p- Xylene, Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium), Radon, Combined Uranium (mg/L), Radium-226, Radium-228, Combined Uranium (pCi/L)
10	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Arsenic (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Metolachlor, Atrazine, Heptachlor epoxide, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Ethylbenzene
10	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Arsenic (total), Copper, Lead (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrate, Nitrite, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), m-Xylene, o-Xylene, m- & p- Xylene
24	Industrial Pollutants Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Chromium (total), Lead (total), Manganese, Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Chloromethane, Chloroethane, Dibromomethane, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Ethylbenzene, m-Xylene, Styrene, o-Xylene, m- & p- Xylene, Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium), Combined Uranium (mg/L), Radium-226, Radium-228, Combined Uranium (pCi/L)
15	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Dibromoacetic acid, Monochloroacetic acid, Bromochloroacetic acid, Monobromoacetic acid, Chloromethane, Dibromomethane, Chloroethane
18	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Nitrate, Copper, Nitrate & nitrite, Barium (total), Lead (total), Arsenic (total), Manganese, Radium-228, Radium-226, Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Chromium (total), Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium), Combined Uranium (mg/L), Selenium (total), Nitrite, Radon, Chloromethane
7	Unregulated Contaminants EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for these contaminants Lead (total), Metolachlor, Chloromethane, Chloroethane, Dibromomethane, Bromochloroacetic acid, Radon

EPA Violation Summary

No violations were reported for this system since 2004.

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.