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Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant. Chlorate is a disinfection byproduct (unregulated chlorine dioxide byproduct); an herbicide; and a pollutant from explosives. Potential health impacts associated with Chlorate include kidney toxicity and reproductive toxicity. Sources of Chlorate:  | Agriculture (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) |  | Industry |  | Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) |
An Environmental Working Group analysis of Chlorate tests reported by 24 public water suppliers in 6 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 1.3 million people in 17 communities drank water contaminated with Chlorate. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.Chlorate remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit. Exposure Summary 1,282,216 | People drinking water contaminated with Chlorate | 17 | Communities served water contaminated with Chlorate |
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Table. Chlorate Exposure by State1.3 million Americans in 5 states were served tap water contaminated with Chlorate between 1998 and 2003. Table. The most polluted communities1.3 million Americans in 17 communities were served tap water contaminated with Chlorate between 1998 and 2003 Ranked by highest average Chlorate level | Rank | System
| Population Served
| Positive test results of total reported tests
| Average Level
(Range) |
|---|
| 1 | Fairmont
Fairmont, MN | 10,947 | 6 of 6 | 600.33 ppb
(381 to 1020 ppb) | | 2 | Magnolia Waterworks
Magnolia, AR | 14,674 | 1 of 1 | 530 ppb
(530 to 530 ppb) | | 3 | Hope Water Light Commission
Hope, AR | 12,345 | 1 of 1 | 438 ppb
(438 to 438 ppb) | | 4 | Binghamton (c)
Binghamton, NY | 47,600 | 1 of 1 | 326 ppb
(326 to 326 ppb) | | 5 | City of Escondido Water
Escondido, CA | 127,800 | 9 of 9 | 145.33 ppb
(73 to 210 ppb) | | 6 | Cal - American Water Company - Monterey
Monterey, CA | 112,133 | 1 of 1 | 140 ppb
(140 to 140 ppb) | | 7 | randall-bold water treatment plant
Concord, CA | 0 | 3 of 3 | 131.2 ppb
(36.2 to 310 ppb) | | 8 | Diablo Water District
Oakley, CA | 22,000 | 15 of 22 | 117.37 ppb
(0 to 525 ppb) | | 9 | City of Glendale Water Dept.
Glendale, CA | 200,000 | 30 of 31 | 114.45 ppb
(0 to 330 ppb) | | 10 | Santa Clara Valley Water District
San Jose, CA | 0 | 8 of 10 | 84.2 ppb
(0 to 150 ppb) |
Next --> Testing Summary for Chlorate Water suppliers report an average of 1.4 Chlorate tests per year. 39,727 water suppliers failed to report
any Chlorate tests at all. | Are tests routinely required for Chlorate by federal law? | No | | Water suppliers reporting tests for Chlorate (1998-2003): | 24 of 39,751 | | Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): | 1.4 per year |
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Chlorate Violations Because Chlorate 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 Chlorate, and any level is legal in tap water.
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