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Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant. Orthophosphate is a chemical added to water at treatment plants, to combat lead contamination by decreasing corrosivity of water. No information on potential health impacts for Orthophosphate was
identified in standard government and academic sources. Sources of Orthophosphate:  | Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) |
An Environmental Working Group analysis of Orthophosphate tests reported by 462 public water suppliers in 12 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 5.0 million people in 430 communities drank water contaminated with Orthophosphate. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.Orthophosphate remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit. Exposure Summary 4,952,893 | People drinking water contaminated with Orthophosphate | 430 | Communities served water contaminated with Orthophosphate |
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Table. Orthophosphate Exposure by State5.0 million Americans in 11 states were served tap water contaminated with Orthophosphate between 1998 and 2003. | State | Water suppliers with Orthophosphate contamination |
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| Systems | Population |
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| Virginia | 375 | 1,727,267 | | Nevada | 6 | 1,572,388 | | Kentucky | 3 | 717,101 | | Minnesota | 4 | 544,348 | | Ohio | 8 | 274,448 | | New York | 11 | 40,429 | | Montana | 2 | 38,370 | | Nebraska | 12 | 25,118 | | Iowa | 7 | 11,237 | | Arkansas | 1 | 1,242 | | Maine | 1 | 945 | | Total | 430 | 4,952,893 |
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Table. The most polluted communities5.0 million Americans in 430 communities were served tap water contaminated with Orthophosphate between 1998 and 2003 Ranked by highest average Orthophosphate level | Rank | System
| Population Served
| Positive test results of total reported tests
| Average Level
(Range) |
|---|
| 1 | Jewett,village of
Jewett, OH | 845 | 1 of 8 | 9812.5 ppb
(0 to 78500 ppb) | | 2 | Zoarville Water Works Co
Zoarville, OH | 165 | 1 of 2 | 3000 ppb
(0 to 6000 ppb) | | 3 | Owens
King George, VA | 108 | 1 of 1 | 2900 ppb
(2900 to 2900 ppb) | | 4 | Kgcsa - Dahlgren
King George, VA | 2,501 | 4 of 4 | 2490 ppb
(2180 to 2760 ppb) | | 5 | Alton Municipal Water Department
Alton, IA | 1,095 | 2 of 2 | 1800 ppb
(1700 to 1900 ppb) | | 6 | Bell Acres
Warwick, RI | 75 | 1 of 1 | 1780 ppb
(1780 to 1780 ppb) | | 7 | Village of Shelton Water
Shelton, NE | 1,140 | 1 of 1 | 1700 ppb
(1700 to 1700 ppb) | | 8 | Monroe Bay Estates
Colonial Beach, VA | 692 | 1 of 1 | 1610 ppb
(1610 to 1610 ppb) | | 9 | King George Co. Courthouse
King George, VA | 2,501 | 3 of 3 | 1563.33 ppb
(580 to 3200 ppb) | | 10 | City of Benkelman Water
Benkelman, NE | 1,133 | 1 of 1 | 1500 ppb
(1500 to 1500 ppb) |
Next --> Testing Summary for Orthophosphate Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 Orthophosphate tests per year. 39,289 water suppliers failed to report
any Orthophosphate tests at all. | Are tests routinely required for Orthophosphate by federal law? | No | | Water suppliers reporting tests for Orthophosphate (1998-2003): | 462 of 39,751 | | Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): | 0.7 per year |
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Orthophosphate Violations Because Orthophosphate 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 Orthophosphate, and any level is legal in tap water.
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