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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

West Des Moines Water Works

Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. Read More.

Haloacetic acids are harmful during pregnancy and may increase the risk of cancer. Haloacetic acids are� genotoxic, which means that they induce mutations and DNA damage. Multiple studies by the National Toxicology Program have demonstrated the cancer-causing properties of individual haloacetic acids in laboratory animals. The Department of Health and Human Services is currently considering listing di- or tri-haloacetic acids for possible inclusion in its comprehensive Report on Carcinogens.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

158

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

88

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
201410.9 ppb22226.00 ppb - 25.0 ppb
20158.88 ppb886.00 ppb - 13.0 ppb
20162.34 ppb329ND - 10.00 ppb
20175.00 ppb3215ND - 24.0 ppb
20185.44 ppb3220ND - 13.0 ppb
20193.34 ppb3214ND - 10.00 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for the group of five haloacetic acids, or HAA5, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 60 ppb

The legal limit for the group of five haloacetic acids (HAA5), established in 1998, was based on the need for residual disinfectant levels in water served to customers and the cost of treatment. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer and harm to the developing fetus due to exposure to haloacetic acids.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-2120352358.00 ppb
2014-02-2120352377.00 ppb
2014-02-21203523813.0 ppb
2014-02-21203523910.00 ppb
2014-05-22205213119.0 ppb
2014-05-2220521437.00 ppb
2014-05-22205214813.0 ppb
2014-05-2220521506.00 ppb
2014-05-22205215115.0 ppb
2014-05-22205388525.0 ppb
2014-08-1220727636.00 ppb
2014-08-12207276410.00 ppb
2014-08-12207276510.00 ppb
2014-08-1220727687.00 ppb
2014-08-1220727709.00 ppb
2014-08-12207277114.0 ppb
2014-11-1220933069.00 ppb
2014-11-12209330812.0 ppb
2014-11-1220933096.00 ppb
2014-11-1220933116.00 ppb
2014-11-12209331314.0 ppb
2014-11-12209331514.0 ppb
2015-02-19OE2151127.00 ppb
2015-02-19OE2151136.00 ppb
2015-02-19OE2151098.00 ppb
2015-05-05OE23932213.0 ppb
2015-05-05OE23932310.00 ppb
2015-08-13OE2803967.00 ppb
2015-11-12OE31731411.0 ppb
2015-11-12OE3173009.00 ppb
2016-02-16OE345850ND
2016-02-16OE345851ND
2016-02-16OE345852ND
2016-02-16OE3458559.00 ppb
2016-02-16OE345853ND
2016-02-16OE34585610.00 ppb
2016-02-16OE345854ND
2016-02-16OE345849ND
2016-05-10OE3764839.00 ppb
2016-05-10OE3764849.00 ppb
2016-05-10OE376480ND
2016-05-10OE376477ND
2016-05-10OE376481ND
2016-05-10OE376482ND
2016-05-10OE376479ND
2016-05-10OE376478ND
2016-08-02OE409808ND
2016-08-02OE409807ND
2016-08-02OE409809ND
2016-08-02OE409811ND
2016-08-02OE409810ND
2016-08-02OE409812ND
2016-08-02OE4098138.00 ppb
2016-08-02OE4098147.00 ppb
2016-11-16OE453339ND
2016-11-16OE453343ND
2016-11-16OE4533458.00 ppb
2016-11-16OE453342ND
2016-11-16OE4533448.00 ppb
2016-11-16OE453340ND
2016-11-16OE453341ND
2016-11-16OE4533467.00 ppb
2017-02-07OE4785227.00 ppb
2017-02-07OE478525ND
2017-02-07OE478526ND
2017-02-07OE478524ND
2017-02-07OE478523ND
2017-02-07OE47852924.0 ppb
2017-02-07OE478527ND
2017-02-07OE47852822.0 ppb
2017-05-09OE511404ND
2017-05-09OE5114056.00 ppb
2017-05-09OE5114099.00 ppb
2017-05-09OE51141010.00 ppb
2017-05-09OE5114067.00 ppb
2017-05-09OE5114076.00 ppb
2017-05-09OE5114088.00 ppb
2017-05-09OE5114036.00 ppb
2017-08-21OE555085ND
2017-08-21OE555080ND
2017-08-21OE555082ND
2017-08-21OE555081ND
2017-08-21OE555083ND
2017-08-21OE555084ND
2017-08-21OE55507811.0 ppb
2017-08-21OE5550799.00 ppb
2017-11-09OE58892715.0 ppb
2017-11-09OE588932ND
2017-11-09OE588929ND
2017-11-09OE58892814.0 ppb
2017-11-09OE588930ND
2017-11-09OE5889316.00 ppb
2017-11-09OE588933ND
2017-11-09OE588934ND
2018-02-01OE617795ND
2018-02-01OE61779610.00 ppb
2018-02-01OE617797ND
2018-02-01OE617798ND
2018-02-01OE6177997.00 ppb
2018-02-01OE6178007.00 ppb
2018-02-01OE6178019.00 ppb
2018-02-01OE61780210.00 ppb
2018-05-02OE6529007.00 ppb
2018-05-02OE652901ND
2018-05-02OE6529026.00 ppb
2018-05-02OE652903ND
2018-05-02OE6529048.00 ppb
2018-05-02OE652905ND
2018-05-02OE65290610.00 ppb
2018-05-02OE6529079.00 ppb
2018-08-15OE700334ND
2018-08-15OE700335ND
2018-08-15OE700336ND
2018-08-15OE700337ND
2018-08-15OE700338ND
2018-08-15OE700339ND
2018-08-15OE70034010.00 ppb
2018-08-15OE70034111.0 ppb
2018-11-06OE7367328.00 ppb
2018-11-06OE7367336.00 ppb
2018-11-06OE7367347.00 ppb
2018-11-06OE7367359.00 ppb
2018-11-06OE7367367.00 ppb
2018-11-06OE7367378.00 ppb
2018-11-06OE73673813.0 ppb
2018-11-06OE73673912.0 ppb
2019-02-21OE7735377.00 ppb
2019-02-21OE7735397.00 ppb
2019-02-21OE7735408.00 ppb
2019-02-21OE773541ND
2019-02-21OE7735427.00 ppb
2019-02-21OE7735438.00 ppb
2019-02-21OE7735447.00 ppb
2019-02-21OE7735458.00 ppb
2019-05-07OE804813ND
2019-05-07OE804814ND
2019-05-07OE804815ND
2019-05-07OE804816ND
2019-05-07OE804817ND
2019-05-07OE804818ND
2019-05-07OE80481910.00 ppb
2019-05-07OE8048209.00 ppb
2019-08-13OE849706ND
2019-08-13OE849707ND
2019-08-13OE849708ND
2019-08-13OE849709ND
2019-08-13OE849710ND
2019-08-13OE849711ND
2019-08-13OE8497127.00 ppb
2019-08-13OE8497137.00 ppb
2019-11-22OE897552ND
2019-11-22OE897553ND
2019-11-22OE897554ND
2019-11-22OE8975556.00 ppb
2019-11-22OE897556ND
2019-11-22OE897557ND
2019-11-22OE8975588.00 ppb
2019-11-22OE8975598.00 ppb