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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

Quality Varies Across the U.S.

CONTAMINANTS DATABASE

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Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

Lead (total) is a metal that enters water by corrosion of household plumbing systems; industrial pollutant; erosion of natural deposits. Potential health impacts associated with Lead (total) include cancer, cardiovascular or blood toxicity, developmental toxicity, endocrine toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, immunotoxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity. [read more]

Sources of Lead (total):

	Sprawl and Urban Areas (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste)
	Industry
	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development)

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Lead (total) tests reported by 21,997 public water suppliers in 35 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 50.4 million people in 7,942 communities drank water contaminated with Lead (total). In 2,275 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds.

Exposure Summary

50,382,986 People drinking water contaminated with Lead (total) 7,942 Communities served water contaminated with Lead (total) 9,619,783 People drinking water contaminated with Lead (total) over health based limits 2,275 Communities served water with Lead (total) above health based limits

Table. Lead (total) Exposure by State

9.6 million Americans in 33 states were served tap water contaminated with Lead (total) at levels above health-based limits between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Lead (total) contamination		Water suppliers reporting Lead (total) above health-based limits
	Systems	Population	Systems	Population
Wisconsin	992	3,752,821	514	2,455,500
Texas	1,256	4,875,274	417	1,126,631
Michigan	891	2,743,600	90	1,066,579
Arizona	144	3,305,282	45	821,202
Iowa	470	1,671,912	135	526,270
Minnesota	6	550,086	4	502,571
California	307	12,761,238	97	459,050
Florida	624	3,573,017	102	412,037
Washington	942	3,122,134	131	335,084
Alabama	11	349,888	8	326,412
Missouri	475	1,205,615	169	313,505
Arkansas	323	2,151,671	104	210,280
Kentucky	172	3,283,346	26	168,469
Illinois	42	196,895	29	134,568
New Mexico	94	878,501	21	120,077
Ohio	56	381,682	26	104,853
Virginia	88	176,430	56	104,442
New York	156	214,823	69	101,131
Idaho	53	67,842	39	63,534
Nebraska	238	645,742	32	58,526
Maine	145	233,452	33	49,846
North Dakota	147	386,934	16	48,808
New Hampshire	37	104,270	31	47,628
Pennsylvania	25	153,733	18	29,275
Colorado	137	820,720	31	16,742
Nevada	39	1,665,329	9	4,798
Alaska	9	4,402	7	3,291
Rhode Island	1	2,592	1	2,592
Utah	41	1,095,662	1	2,450
Oklahoma	11	5,171	5	1,610
Montana	3	1,963	2	1,063
Delaware	5	754	5	754
Wyoming	2	205	2	205
Total	7,942	50,382,986	2,275	9,619,783

Table. The most polluted communities

9.6 million Americans in 2,275 communities were served tap water contaminated with Lead (total) above health based limits between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Lead (total) level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	South River Water Association Post Falls, ID	150	1 of 1	300 ppb (300 to 300 ppb)
2	Hailey Water and Sewer Hailey, ID	6,500	1 of 1	200 ppb (200 to 200 ppb)
3	Riverside Cobb Farm Ho Bartlett, NH	63	1 of 1	181 ppb (181 to 181 ppb)
4	Meadowbrook Village Rochester, NH	40	1 of 1	156 ppb (156 to 156 ppb)
5	Tilton Northfield Aqueduct Co Northfield, NH	2,500	1 of 1	154 ppb (154 to 154 ppb)
6	Wampsville Village Oneida, NY	586	1 of 1	120 ppb (120 to 120 ppb)
7	Epsom Manor Health Care Ctr Epsom, NH	117	3 of 3	108.93 ppb (1.4 to 297 ppb)
8	City of Bliss Water Bliss, ID	325	1 of 1	100 ppb (100 to 100 ppb)
9	Silvercreek Silver Creek, CO	2,135	1 of 1	90 ppb (90 to 90 ppb)
10	Fox Lake Fox Lake, IL	7,150	4 of 8	77.57 ppb (0 to 300 ppb)

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Health based limits for Lead (total)

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL)	15 ppb	The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG)	0 ppb	A 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.
California Public Health Goals	2 ppb	Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health.

Testing Summary for Lead (total)

Water suppliers report an average of 0.6 Lead (total) tests per year. 17,754 water suppliers failed to report any Lead (total) tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Lead (total) by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for Lead (total) (1998-2003): 21,997 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.6 per year

Lead (total) Violations

Table. < 0.1 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for Lead (total) between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	20	20
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	14	14
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)
Violations of tap water pollution standards (1998-2003)	6	6
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)