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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:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

49

states detected

15,267

utilities detected

154 million

people served

22

states over health guideline

132

utilities over health guideline

428,000

people served over health guideline

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 the Environmental Protection Agency as a children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure, a non-enforceable federal health advisory. 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 UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Texas53,8862,56223,015,260
California15162220,083,218
Illinois2435,4571,16710,680,884
New York2463,7699779,516,023
Massachusetts002257,643,326
Pennsylvania3216,2091,2437,544,559
Virginia005436,311,176
Florida2230,1891,1676,301,727
Maryland001164,877,814
Colorado18503694,809,895
Ohio73,6313854,709,215
Arizona18,2201434,242,278
New Jersey16122603,424,317
Missouri724,7466443,063,360
Kentucky002983,006,432
Louisiana918,6513232,765,888
Indiana28,9863822,665,433
Connecticut002212,481,222
Kansas14595702,394,026
Alabama001372,182,628
Oregon00842,161,277
Utah001202,027,019
Washington001631,634,537
Wisconsin12,766471,561,355
Tennessee00701,416,215
Mississippi003361,363,173
Oklahoma13503121,138,892
Nevada00641,134,050
Hawaii00141,124,436
New Mexico00158952,521
Minnesota54,465132903,145
Rhode Island0056870,274
West Virginia22,977250852,200
Michigan3630148816,546
Delaware0037682,305
District Of Columbia003644,822
New Hampshire00243489,850
Maine00163423,954
Georgia00136352,283
Alaska0026298,224
Idaho0016251,521
Iowa135098213,313
South Carolina0024137,609
Wyoming0025130,537
Montana1656490,949
North Dakota002486,639
North Carolina004084,582
South Dakota002431,519
Arkansas18251425,205
Vermont002219,854
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Utilities with the highest amounts of barium, 2015

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
German ValleyGerman Valley, IL4 of 42,395.0 ppb480
City of HialeahHialeah, FL1 of 12,300.0 ppb229,900
Nicholson Borough AuthorityNicholson, PA5 of 52,160.0 ppb850
Summerville Borough Municipal AuthoritySummerville, PA12 of 122,075.0 ppb530
Meadows Mobile Home ParkApollo, PA2 of 22,060.0 ppb250
SeatonSeaton, IL9 of 92,044.4 ppb225
Gowanda Village*Gowanda, NY1 of 12,020.0 ppb2,919
Cypress CoveKissimmee, FL1 of 12,000.0 ppb289
Cowanshannock M A Sagamore SystemNu Mine, PA1 of 11,890.0 ppb300
Riverview Communities Lp SouthWarren, PA4 of 41,887.5 ppb100
Laceyville Water CompanyLaceyville, PA1 of 11,798.0 ppb415
Brentwood SubdivisionAustin, TX4 of 41,757.5 ppb456
Northstar Mobile Home ParkCaledonia, NY4 of 41,750.8 ppb200
Town and Country EstatesMansfield, PA1 of 11,750.0 ppb200
Calcasieu Parish Water Works District No. 5Lake Charles, LA2 of 21,675.0 ppb4,500
Woods Edge Mobile Home ParkSeneca Rocks, WV1 of 11,670.0 ppb72
HampshireHampshire, IL2 of 21,595.0 ppb2,999
Aiken Water CompanyGifford, PA1 of 11,530.0 ppb850
D & G ApartmentsEndicott, NY1 of 11,520.0 ppb25
Port O Call Mobile Home ParkButler, PA1 of 11,500.0 ppb326
Great Oaks and Beacon Hills ApartmentsFarmington Hills, IL1 of 11,500.0 ppb1,816
Worthington West Franklin JmaWorthington, PA6 of 61,494.7 ppb1,500
Aqua Pa FactoryvilleWhite Haven, PA1 of 11,492.0 ppb2,323
Falconhead Prop Owners AssociationBurneyville, OK1 of 11,490.0 ppb350
Crystal Waters Personal CareMarion Center, PA1 of 11,440.0 ppb50
Lakeshore Court Mobile HomeTroy, OH1 of 11,400.0 ppb65
Ark ParkEndicott, NY1 of 11,400.0 ppb170
SmithtonSmithton, MO2 of 21,360.0 ppb480
Volo*Volo, IL5 of 51,360.0 ppb25
Meadow Brook M H PTemple, PA3 of 31,352.0 ppb224

* 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.

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UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
City of HialeahHialeah, FL1 of 12,300.0 ppb229,900
Endicott Municipal Water WorksEndicott, NY3 of 3866.4 ppb45,000
Sedalia*Sedalia, MO1 of 1839.0 ppb21,400
Crystal LakeCrystal Lake, IL5 of 5631.5 ppb40,634
Slippery Rock Municipal AuthoritySlippery Rock, PA2 of 2602.0 ppb15,778
SycamoreSycamore, IL1 of 2585.0 ppb14,000
Lake ZurichLake Zurich, IL6 of 6530.0 ppb18,992
Huntley*Huntley, IL4 of 4515.0 ppb24,291
Auburn Water DepartmentAuburn, IN2 of 2510.0 ppb12,500
Water Works District #1 of Vermilion*Maurice, LA8 of 10488.0 ppb21,300
South ElginSouth Elgin, IL8 of 8482.0 ppb14,668
Crowley Water System (LAWCO)Baton Rouge, LA4 of 4472.5 ppb19,000
CaryCary, IL8 of 8465.0 ppb18,713
Ocean Twp Department of UtilitiesOcean Twp, NJ2 of 2450.0 ppb15,419
Del CityDel City, OK3 of 3445.7 ppb22,128
Lake In The Hills*Lake In The Hills, IL7 of 7444.3 ppb28,728
Aqua Pa HatboroBryn Mawr, PA6 of 6436.5 ppb12,901
Midwest City*Midwest City, OK5 of 5425.0 ppb55,935
Sulphur Water SystemSulphur, LA1 of 1420.0 ppb20,410
Horsham Water&sewer Authority*Horsham, PA12 of 12411.5 ppb25,000
Cottonwood Municipal Water Cw1*Cottonwood, AZ2 of 2410.0 ppb11,265
Cromwell Fire District Water Department*Cromwell, CT1 of 1406.0 ppb14,316
De Kalb*Dekalb, IL5 of 5390.2 ppb41,000
Tinker AFB Bio-env Eng*Tinker Afb, OK13 of 13384.5 ppb24,645
WaldorfLa Plata, MD1 of 1380.0 ppb82,400
City of RockvilleRockville, MD1 of 1360.0 ppb46,500
Valley Water Systems, Inc.Plainville, CT2 of 2360.0 ppb18,231
WashingtonWashington, IL2 of 2335.0 ppb13,167
Jamestown BPUJamestown, NY2 of 2330.0 ppb46,712
Ridgewood WaterRidgewood, NJ54 of 54316.0 ppb61,700

* 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.

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