Barium
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Barium is a mineral present in rocks, soil and water. High concentrations of barium in drinking water increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
2015:
49
states detected
15,497
utilities detected
158 million
people served
21
states over health guideline
130
utilities over health guideline
426,000
people served over health guideline
4
states over legal limit
8
utilities over legal limit
235,000
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for barium
Harm to the kidney
High blood pressure
Harm to the heart and blood vessels
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 700 ppb
The health guideline of 700 ppb for barium was defined by EWG as benchmark that protects against harm to the kidneys and the cardiovascular system. This health guideline protects against harm to internal organs.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 2,000 ppb
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)2,000 ppb
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
ppb = parts per billion.
States reporting barium in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 5 | 3,886 | 2,568 | 23,018,173 | |||
| California | 1 | 51 | 620 | 20,162,544 | |||
| New York | 24 | 63,769 | 947 | 10,424,464 | |||
| Illinois | 22 | 33,599 | 1,103 | 9,932,320 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 225 | 7,643,326 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 32 | 16,209 | 1,243 | 7,544,559 | |||
| Florida | 2 | 230,189 | 1,173 | 7,190,308 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 543 | 6,311,176 | |||
| New Jersey | 2 | 836 | 430 | 5,493,126 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 116 | 4,877,814 | |||
| Colorado | 1 | 850 | 369 | 4,809,895 | |||
| Ohio | 7 | 3,631 | 377 | 4,677,041 | |||
| Arizona | 1 | 8,220 | 144 | 4,309,278 | |||
| Louisiana | 9 | 18,651 | 385 | 3,459,634 | |||
| Missouri | 7 | 24,746 | 654 | 3,109,725 | |||
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 298 | 3,006,432 | |||
| Indiana | 2 | 8,986 | 382 | 2,665,433 | |||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 221 | 2,481,222 | |||
| Kansas | 1 | 459 | 563 | 2,361,108 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 137 | 2,182,628 | |||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 84 | 2,161,277 | |||
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 120 | 2,027,019 | |||
| Wisconsin | 3 | 2,896 | 255 | 1,831,759 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 163 | 1,634,537 | |||
| Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 70 | 1,416,215 | |||
| Mississippi | 0 | 0 | 336 | 1,363,173 | |||
| Oklahoma | 1 | 350 | 312 | 1,138,892 | |||
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 64 | 1,134,050 | |||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1,124,436 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 158 | 952,521 | |||
| Minnesota | 5 | 4,465 | 132 | 903,145 | |||
| West Virginia | 2 | 2,977 | 259 | 894,184 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 19 | 834,010 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 54 | 821,274 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 37 | 682,305 | |||
| District Of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 644,822 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 243 | 489,850 | |||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 163 | 423,954 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 136 | 352,283 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 26 | 298,224 | |||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | 16 | 251,521 | |||
| Iowa | 1 | 350 | 98 | 213,313 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 24 | 137,609 | |||
| Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 25 | 130,537 | |||
| Montana | 1 | 65 | 64 | 90,949 | |||
| North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 24 | 86,639 | |||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 40 | 84,582 | |||
| South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 24 | 31,519 | |||
| Arkansas | 1 | 825 | 14 | 25,205 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 22 | 19,854 | |||
Utilities with the highest amounts of barium, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| German Valley | German Valley, IL | 4 of 4 | 2,395.0 ppb | 480 |
| City of Hialeah | Hialeah, FL | 1 of 1 | 2,300.0 ppb | 229,900 |
| Nicholson Borough Authority | Nicholson, PA | 5 of 5 | 2,160.0 ppb | 850 |
| Summerville Borough Municipal Authority | Summerville, PA | 12 of 12 | 2,075.0 ppb | 530 |
| Meadows Mobile Home Park | Apollo, PA | 2 of 2 | 2,060.0 ppb | 250 |
| Seaton | Seaton, IL | 9 of 9 | 2,044.4 ppb | 225 |
| Gowanda Village* | Gowanda, NY | 1 of 1 | 2,020.0 ppb | 2,919 |
| Cypress Cove | Kissimmee, FL | 1 of 1 | 2,000.0 ppb | 289 |
| Cowanshannock M A Sagamore System | Nu Mine, PA | 1 of 1 | 1,890.0 ppb | 300 |
| Laceyville Water Company | Laceyville, PA | 1 of 1 | 1,798.0 ppb | 415 |
| Brentwood Subdivision | Austin, TX | 4 of 4 | 1,757.5 ppb | 456 |
| Northstar Mobile Home Park | Caledonia, NY | 4 of 4 | 1,750.8 ppb | 200 |
| Town and Country Estates | Mansfield, PA | 1 of 1 | 1,750.0 ppb | 200 |
| Calcasieu Parish Water Works District No. 5 | Lake Charles, LA | 4 of 4 | 1,675.0 ppb | 4,500 |
| Woods Edge Mobile Home Park | Seneca Rocks, WV | 1 of 1 | 1,670.0 ppb | 72 |
| Hampshire | Hampshire, IL | 2 of 2 | 1,595.0 ppb | 2,999 |
| Aiken Water Company | Gifford, PA | 1 of 1 | 1,530.0 ppb | 850 |
| D & G Apartments | Endicott, NY | 1 of 1 | 1,520.0 ppb | 25 |
| Port O Call Mobile Home Park | Butler, PA | 1 of 1 | 1,500.0 ppb | 326 |
| Great Oaks and Beacon Hills Apartments | Farmington Hills, IL | 1 of 1 | 1,500.0 ppb | 1,816 |
| Worthington West Franklin Jma | Worthington, PA | 6 of 6 | 1,494.7 ppb | 1,500 |
| Aqua Pa Factoryville | White Haven, PA | 1 of 1 | 1,492.0 ppb | 2,323 |
| Falconhead Prop Owners Association | Burneyville, OK | 1 of 1 | 1,490.0 ppb | 350 |
| Crystal Waters Personal Care | Marion Center, PA | 1 of 1 | 1,440.0 ppb | 50 |
| Lakeshore Court Mobile Home | Troy, OH | 1 of 1 | 1,400.0 ppb | 65 |
| Kirkland | Kirkland, IL | 1 of 1 | 1,400.0 ppb | 1,800 |
| Ark Park | Endicott, NY | 1 of 1 | 1,400.0 ppb | 170 |
| Smithton | Smithton, MO | 2 of 2 | 1,360.0 ppb | 480 |
| Volo* | Volo, IL | 5 of 5 | 1,360.0 ppb | 25 |
| Meadow Brook M H P | Temple, PA | 3 of 3 | 1,352.0 ppb | 224 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Barium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Hialeah | Hialeah, FL | 1 of 1 | 2,300.0 ppb | 229,900 |
| Endicott Municipal Water Works | Endicott, NY | 3 of 3 | 866.4 ppb | 45,000 |
| Sedalia* | Sedalia, MO | 1 of 1 | 839.0 ppb | 21,400 |
| Crystal Lake | Crystal Lake, IL | 5 of 5 | 631.5 ppb | 40,634 |
| Lake Zurich | Lake Zurich, IL | 5 of 5 | 612.2 ppb | 18,992 |
| Slippery Rock Municipal Authority | Slippery Rock, PA | 2 of 2 | 602.0 ppb | 15,778 |
| Sycamore | Sycamore, IL | 1 of 2 | 585.0 ppb | 14,000 |
| Huntley* | Huntley, IL | 4 of 4 | 515.0 ppb | 24,291 |
| Auburn Water Department | Auburn, IN | 2 of 2 | 510.0 ppb | 12,500 |
| Water Works District #1 of Vermilion* | Maurice, LA | 16 of 20 | 488.0 ppb | 21,300 |
| South Elgin | South Elgin, IL | 8 of 8 | 482.0 ppb | 14,668 |
| Crowley Water System (LAWCO) | Baton Rouge, LA | 8 of 8 | 472.5 ppb | 19,000 |
| Cary | Cary, IL | 8 of 8 | 465.0 ppb | 18,713 |
| Ocean Twp Department of Utilities | Ocean Twp, NJ | 2 of 2 | 450.0 ppb | 15,419 |
| Del City | Del City, OK | 3 of 3 | 445.7 ppb | 22,128 |
| Lake In The Hills* | Lake In The Hills, IL | 7 of 7 | 444.3 ppb | 28,728 |
| Aqua Pa Hatboro | Bryn Mawr, PA | 6 of 6 | 436.5 ppb | 12,901 |
| Midwest City* | Midwest City, OK | 5 of 5 | 425.0 ppb | 55,935 |
| Sulphur Water System | Sulphur, LA | 2 of 2 | 420.0 ppb | 20,410 |
| Horsham Water&sewer Authority* | Horsham, PA | 12 of 12 | 411.5 ppb | 25,000 |
| Cottonwood Municipal Water Cw1* | Cottonwood, AZ | 2 of 2 | 410.0 ppb | 11,265 |
| Cromwell Fire District Water Department* | Cromwell, CT | 1 of 1 | 406.0 ppb | 14,316 |
| De Kalb* | Dekalb, IL | 5 of 5 | 390.2 ppb | 41,000 |
| Tinker AFB Bio-env Eng* | Tinker Afb, OK | 13 of 13 | 384.5 ppb | 24,645 |
| Waldorf | La Plata, MD | 1 of 1 | 380.0 ppb | 82,400 |
| City of Rockville | Rockville, MD | 1 of 1 | 360.0 ppb | 46,500 |
| Jamestown BPU | Jamestown, NY | 2 of 2 | 330.0 ppb | 46,712 |
| Ridgewood Water | Ridgewood, NJ | 54 of 54 | 316.0 ppb | 61,700 |
| Warminster Municipal Authority* | Warminster, PA | 13 of 13 | 315.4 ppb | 40,000 |
| Sikeston* | Sikeston, MO | 2 of 2 | 303.5 ppb | 16,393 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Barium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.