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Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant. Tribromoacetic acid is an unregulaed by-product of tap water disinfection (a byproduct of ozonation called a haloacetic acid). No information on potential health impacts for Tribromoacetic acid was
identified in standard government and academic sources. Sources of Tribromoacetic acid:  | Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) |
An Environmental Working Group analysis of Tribromoacetic acid tests reported by 136 public water suppliers in 2 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 298 thousand people in 9 communities drank water contaminated with Tribromoacetic acid. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.Tribromoacetic acid remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit. Exposure Summary 298,338 | People drinking water contaminated with Tribromoacetic acid | 9 | Communities served water contaminated with Tribromoacetic acid |
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Table. Tribromoacetic acid Exposure by State298 thousand Americans in 2 states were served tap water contaminated with Tribromoacetic acid between 1998 and 2003. | State | Water suppliers with Tribromoacetic acid contamination |
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| Systems | Population |
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| Missouri | 6 | 203,348 | | California | 3 | 94,990 | | Total | 9 | 298,338 |
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Table. The most polluted communities298,000 Americans in 9 communities were served tap water contaminated with Tribromoacetic acid between 1998 and 2003 Ranked by highest average Tribromoacetic acid level | Rank | System
| Population Served
| Positive test results of total reported tests
| Average Level
(Range) |
|---|
| 1 | Paradise Irrigation District
Paradise, CA | 26,357 | 1 of 1 | 15 ppb
(15 to 15 ppb) | | 2 | City of Yuba City Water Department
Yuba City, CA | 43,633 | 1 of 1 | 5.9 ppb
(5.9 to 5.9 ppb) | | 3 | College of The Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO | 1,200 | 3 of 10 | 3.16 ppb
(0 to 13.9 ppb) | | 4 | Lakeside Wd
Lakeside, CA | 25,000 | 1 of 1 | 3.1 ppb
(3.1 to 3.1 ppb) | | 5 | Branson
Branson, MO | 6,050 | 2 of 9 | 2.74 ppb
(0 to 13.5 ppb) | | 6 | Boonville
Boonville, MO | 8,202 | 1 of 9 | 1.47 ppb
(0 to 13.2 ppb) | | 7 | Cape Girardeau Water Department
Cape Girardeau, MO | 36,701 | 1 of 9 | 1.33 ppb
(0 to 12 ppb) | | 8 | City Utilities of Springfield
Springfield, MO | 149,237 | 1 of 10 | 1.23 ppb
(0 to 12.3 ppb) | | 9 | Milan
Milan, MO | 1,958 | 1 of 9 | 0.62 ppb
(0 to 5.54 ppb) |
Testing Summary for Tribromoacetic acid Water suppliers report an average of 1.3 Tribromoacetic acid tests per year. 39,615 water suppliers failed to report
any Tribromoacetic acid tests at all. | Are tests routinely required for Tribromoacetic acid by federal law? | No | | Water suppliers reporting tests for Tribromoacetic acid (1998-2003): | 136 of 39,751 | | Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): | 1.3 per year |
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Tribromoacetic acid Violations Because Tribromoacetic acid 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 Tribromoacetic acid, and any level is legal in tap water.
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