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Great Meadow/Washington Corr. Facilities - Middle Falls, NY

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Serves 3,100 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 New York Department of Health- Bureau of Public Water Supply 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.	3 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	27 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.	1,295 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 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.	22.59 ppb 88 ppb	Yes 0.7 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.	8.67 ppb 111 ppb	Yes 70 ppb	Yes 60 ppb
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.	1.25 ppb 10 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 6 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.	23.32 ppb 58 ppb	Yes 5.7 ppb	No 80 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.	1.8 ppb 3.9 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
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)Total trihalomethanes constitute the sum of four disinfection byproducts: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform.	25.22 ppb 61.1 ppb	Yes 9.8 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.	7.83 ppb 17 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
Radium-228Radium-228 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.79 pCi/L 1.5 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
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.	12.41 ppb 34 ppb	Yes 20 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.	0.02 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 80 ppb
Combined Radium (-226 & -228)Radium is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	1.58 pCi/L 1.58 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-226Radium-226 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.9 pCi/L 0.9 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*
TolueneToluene is a pollutant from petroleum refineries and a chemical used in plastics manufacturing as well as the pharmaceutical, paint and furniture industries.	0.6 ppb 6.7 ppb	No 150 ppb	No 1000 ppb
Xylenes (total)Xylenes are a group of chemicals produced from petroleum and released as pollutants from chemical, plastics and synthetic fiber industries as well as printing, painting, and laboratory uses.	0.34 ppb 1.7 ppb	No 1800 ppb	No 10000 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.	48 ppb 230 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 ppb
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.	0.05 ppb 1.4 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.	0.3 ppb 7.9 ppb	No	No 60 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.	0.71 ppb 10 ppb	No 10000 ppb	No 10000 ppb
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.	0.35 ppb 4.9 ppb	No 10000 ppb	No 10000 ppb
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylenecis-1,2-Dichloroethylene is a pollutant discharged by various industrial chemical factories from the manufacture of plastic wrap, adhesives and synthetic fiber.	1.92 ppb 23 ppb	No 70 ppb	No 70 ppb
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene is a chemical intermediate, industrial solvent, and component of gasoline, coal tar and petroleum products.	0.7 ppb 6.3 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene is a gasoline hydrocarbon and industrial chemical used in building materials, furnishings and chemical manufacturing.	0.73 ppb 6.6 ppb	No 10000 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
BromochloromethaneBromochloromethane is a tap water disinfection byproduct; it is also used as an intermediate in chemical manufacturing and a fire extinguishing agent.	0.33 ppb 2.6 ppb	No 50 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
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.	0.25 ppb 2 ppb	No 30 ppb	No 400 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.	0.02 ppm 0.09 ppm	No 10 ppm	No 10 ppm
Chromium (total)Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.	18 ppb 90 ppb	No 100 ppb	No 100 ppb
ManganeseManganese is a naturally occurring element released from mineral deposits as well as industrial use.	10 ppb 30 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 - 102 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-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 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, Arsenic (total), Atrazine, Benzene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Beryllium (total), Bromobenzene, Bromomethane, Butachlor, Cadmium (total), Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chlordane, Chloroethane, Chloromethane, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, Cyanide, Dalapon, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromomethane, Dicamba, Dichlorodifluoromethane, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Dieldrin, Dinoseb, Endrin, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorobutadiene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Isopropylbenzene, Lindane, m- & p- Xylene, m-Dichlorobenzene, Mercury (total inorganic), Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), Mtbe, n-Butylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, Nitrite, o-Chlorotoluene, o-Dichlorobenzene, Oxamyl (Vydate), p-Chlorotoluene, p-Dichlorobenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, p-Xylene, Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Propachlor, sec-Butylbenzene, Selenium (total), Silver (total), Simazine, Styrene, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene, Thallium (total), Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Vinyl chloride

Pollution Summary

27	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2009) Barium (total), Chromium (total), Manganese, Nitrate, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, Bromochloromethane, Monochloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Monobromoacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Xylenes (total), Toluene, m-Xylene, o-Xylene, Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-226, Radium-228
1	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Nitrate
5	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Nitrate, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Xylenes (total), m-Xylene, o-Xylene
17	Industrial Pollutants Barium (total), Chromium (total), Manganese, Nitrate, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, Bromochloromethane, Xylenes (total), Toluene, m-Xylene, o-Xylene, Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-226, Radium-228
12	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Dibromoacetic acid, Monochloroacetic acid, Monobromoacetic acid, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Bromochloromethane
7	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Nitrate, Barium (total), Manganese, Radium-228, Radium-226, Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Chromium (total)
3	Unregulated Contaminants EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for these contaminants 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, Bromochloromethane

EPA Violation Summary

Violation Category	Number of Violations
Reporting (click see violations)close	4
Violation Date of Violation Operations Report 2008/12/01 - 2008/12/31 Inadequate reporting of information to the public 2006/09/13 - 2006/10/18 Inadequate reporting of information to the public 2005/07/01 - 2006/10/18 Failure to report information to the public or state agency in the Consumer Confidence Report 2007/07/01 - 2007/11/09
Monitoring (click see violations)close	13
Violation Date of Violation Failure to monitor, Routine Minor (Coliform bacteria) 2005/04/01 - 2005/04/30 Failure to monitor regularly Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Failure to monitor regularly Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Failure to monitor regularly m-Xylene 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Failure to monitor regularly o-Xylene 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Failure to monitor regularly m-Xylene 2005/10/01 - 2005/12/31 Failure to monitor regularly o-Xylene 2005/10/01 - 2005/12/31 Monitoring and Reporting Disinfection Byproduct Rule Carbon, Total-Organic 2006/04/01 - 2006/06/30 Failure to monitor regularly Alkalinity, Total 2006/06/01 - 2006/06/30 Failure to monitor regularly m-Xylene 2006/04/01 - 2006/06/30 Failure to monitor regularly o-Xylene 2006/04/01 - 2006/06/30 Failure to monitor, Routine Major (Coliform bacteria) 2006/12/01 - 2006/12/31 Failure to monitor regularly Toluene 2007/07/01 - 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.