EWG INVESTIGATION

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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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WHAT'S IN YOUR WATER?

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

Quality Varies Across the U.S.

CONTAMINANTS DATABASE

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Credits

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Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

Bromide is a naturally present constituent in some ground water and in coastal waters due to saltwater intrusion; it contributes to the formation of toxic tap water disinfection byproducts. It is also a component of crude oil extraction brines, and is used in making fumigants, flameproofing agents, dyes, and sanitizers. No information on potential health impacts for Bromide was identified in standard government and academic sources.

Sources of Bromide:

	Industry
	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development)

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Bromide tests reported by 147 public water suppliers in 9 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 31.3 million people in 115 communities drank water contaminated with Bromide. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.Bromide remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

31,267,299 People drinking water contaminated with Bromide 115 Communities served water contaminated with Bromide

Table. Bromide Exposure by State

31.3 million Americans in 9 states were served tap water contaminated with Bromide between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Bromide contamination
	Systems	Population
California	76	27,993,032
Nevada	9	1,575,871
Wisconsin	3	848,350
North Carolina	3	526,481
Pennsylvania	4	134,409
North Dakota	1	90,599
Arkansas	17	64,032
Minnesota	1	34,500
Wyoming	1	25
Total	115	31,267,299

Table. The most polluted communities

31.3 million Americans in 115 communities were served tap water contaminated with Bromide between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Bromide level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Jamestown Borough Water Authority Jamestown, PA	854	1 of 1	40000 ppb (40000 to 40000 ppb)
2	Palmdale Water District Palmdale, CA	90,000	2 of 4	5009 ppb (0 to 20000 ppb)
3	City of Los Angeles Water - - Power Plan Los Angeles, CA	32	5 of 7	4880 ppb (0 to 34000 ppb)
4	City of Los Angeles Water - - Power Plan Los Angeles, CA	32	5 of 7	4880 ppb (0 to 34000 ppb)
5	Bois D'arc Water System Hope, AR	125	1 of 1	1390 ppb (1390 to 1390 ppb)
6	Russell Waterworks Russell, AR	275	1 of 1	1360 ppb (1360 to 1360 ppb)
7	Liberty Park Water Association Inc. Tustin, CA	300	2 of 2	1300 ppb (1000 to 1600 ppb)
8	City of Wheatland Wheatland, CA	2,275	1 of 2	1215 ppb (0 to 2430 ppb)
9	Contra Costa Water District Concord, CA	200,000	84 of 153	759.09 ppb (0 to 14700 ppb)
10	Calion Water Works Calion, AR	773	1 of 1	550 ppb (550 to 550 ppb)

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Testing Summary for Bromide

Water suppliers report an average of 2.0 Bromide tests per year. 39,604 water suppliers failed to report any Bromide tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Bromide by federal law? No Water suppliers reporting tests for Bromide (1998-2003): 147 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 2.0 per year

Bromide Violations

Because Bromide is unregulated in tap water, no violations are recorded in EPA's violations database, the Safe Drinking Water Information System. Under the federal tap water law, water suppliers are not required to routinely test for Bromide, and any level is legal in tap water.