Bromate
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Bromate is a carcinogenic disinfection byproduct formed when source waters containing bromide are treated with ozonation or sodium hypochlorite. Studies of laboratory animals show that bromate damages DNA and causes cancer in multiple organs. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.
2015-2017:
FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES
FOUND ABOVE LEGAL LIMIT
29
states detected
740
utilities detected
45 million
people served
28
states over health guideline
747
utilities over health guideline
43 million
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for bromate
Cancer
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for bromate was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppb
The legal limit for bromate, established in 1998, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to bromate exposure.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting bromate in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 206 | 19,675,257 | 202 | 19,886,212 | |||
| Texas | 172 | 7,289,977 | 152 | 7,308,138 | |||
| New Jersey | 43 | 3,234,146 | 43 | 3,234,146 | |||
| Arizona | 7 | 2,707,885 | 7 | 2,707,885 | |||
| Virginia | 11 | 1,940,553 | 10 | 1,940,527 | |||
| Georgia | 12 | 1,714,896 | 12 | 1,714,896 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 36 | 1,435,889 | |||
| Wisconsin | 21 | 1,078,865 | 19 | 1,079,085 | |||
| Utah | 25 | 434,968 | 29 | 961,068 | |||
| Oklahoma | 45 | 907,580 | 44 | 907,503 | |||
| New Mexico | 3 | 602,238 | 3 | 602,238 | |||
| Kansas | 42 | 523,897 | 39 | 536,162 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 17 | 496,023 | 17 | 496,023 | |||
| North Carolina | 13 | 463,405 | 12 | 463,180 | |||
| Massachusetts | 11 | 279,642 | 15 | 316,968 | |||
| Nebraska | 1 | 277,348 | 1 | 277,348 | |||
| Illinois | 19 | 241,126 | 18 | 238,126 | |||
| Colorado | 9 | 212,633 | 11 | 212,858 | |||
| North Dakota | 13 | 176,198 | 13 | 176,198 | |||
| Wyoming | 43 | 135,789 | 24 | 127,827 | |||
| Connecticut | 2 | 51,128 | 2 | 51,128 | |||
| Arkansas | 14 | 48,747 | 13 | 48,237 | |||
| Minnesota | 2 | 44,024 | 2 | 44,024 | |||
| Oregon | 3 | 41,084 | 3 | 41,084 | |||
| Maine | 4 | 33,653 | 4 | 33,653 | |||
| Nevada | 5 | 24,161 | 5 | 24,161 | |||
| Ohio | 2 | 11,982 | 2 | 11,982 | |||
| New York | 1 | 9,000 | 1 | 9,000 | |||
| Alaska | 1 | 2,300 | 1 | 2,300 | |||
MORE
LESS
Filtering technologies that reduce bromate
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Utilities with the highest amounts of bromate, 2015-2017
ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iola, City of* | Iola, KS | 42 of 43 | 8.06 ppb | 5,553 |
| Allen County Rural Water District 15 | Iola, KS | 42 of 43 | 8.06 ppb | 135 |
| Gas City, City of | Gas, KS | 42 of 43 | 8.06 ppb | 532 |
| Vaughn WC Inc | Bakersfield, CA | 3 of 13 | 7.92 ppb | 29,825 |
| Bassi Ranch Mutual Water Company | San Luis Obispo, CA | 18 of 36 | 7.82 ppb | 85 |
| Findlay | Findlay, IL | 1 of 1 | 7.70 ppb | 800 |
| City of Emporia* | Emporia, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 24,799 |
| Lyon County Rural Water District 1* | Emporia, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 1,595 |
| Coffey County Rural Water District 2e | Gridley, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 1,254 |
| Lyon County Rural Water District 2* | Emporia, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 750 |
| Lyon County Rural Water District 5 | Emporia, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 1,310 |
| Olpe, City of* | Olpe, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 537 |
| Hartford, City of | Hartford, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 367 |
| Lyon County Rural Water District 4 | Neosho Rapids, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 980 |
| Edgemont Acres Mutual Water Company | North Edwards, CA | 7 of 13 | 7.32 ppb | 267 |
| Antelope Valley E Kern Water Agy-rosamond* | Palmdale, CA | 7 of 13 | 7.32 ppb | 0 |
| Desert Lake Community Services District | Boron, CA | 7 of 13 | 7.32 ppb | 792 |
| Boron Community Services District | Boron, CA | 7 of 13 | 7.32 ppb | 2,253 |
| Wardwell Water & Sewer District | Mills, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 3,252 |
| City of Casper* | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 57,500 |
| Central Wy Reg Water Sys Jpb* | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 25 |
| Poison Spider Improvement&services Distr | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 145 |
| Sandy Lake Estates- Isd | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 150 |
| Pioneer Water and Sewer District | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 1,500 |
| Edgerton, Town Of | Edgerton, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 195 |
| Lakeview Improvement & Service District | Mills, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 50 |
| Thirty-three Mile Road I & SD | Mills, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 183 |
| Midwest, Town Of | Midwest, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 404 |
| Big Bend Water District | Las Vegas, NV | 73 of 74 | 5.82 ppb | 8,800 |
| Summit Mutual Water Company | Los Gatos, CA | 5 of 6 | 5.72 ppb | 140 |
| Rayburn Country Municipal Utility District | Jasper, TX | 23 of 71 | 5.62 ppb | 2,671 |
| Council Grove, City of* | Council Grove, KS | 12 of 12 | 5.39 ppb | 2,105 |
| City of Cushing | Cushing, TX | 10 of 38 | 5.11 ppb | 1,059 |
| Concord Water Department | Concord, MA | 24 of 36 | 5.01 ppb | 16,306 |
| Rincon Del Diablo MWD(ID-1) | Escondido, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 24,545 |
| City of Carlsbad | Carlsbad, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 84,838 |
| Valley Center MWD* | Valley Center, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 25,450 |
| Rainbow Municipal WD | Fallbrook, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 19,611 |
| Ramona Municipal WD | Ramona, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 40,000 |
| San Diego County Water Authority* | Escondido, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 0 |
| Vallecitos Water District | San Marcos, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 94,871 |
| Moraga Heights Mutual Water | Canyon, CA | 2 of 3 | 4.70 ppb | 60 |
| City of Santa Barbara Water Department* | Santa Barbara, CA | 35 of 36 | 4.69 ppb | 92,371 |
| Pittsburg County Rural Water District #5 | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 1,750 |
| Pittsburg County Rural Water District #6 (alderson) | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 300 |
| McAlester PWA* | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 17,783 |
| Pittsburg County Rural Water District #16 | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 1,268 |
| Pittsburg County Rural Water District #9 (mcalester) | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 872 |
| Woodmoor Water & Sanitation District | Monument, CO | 4 of 7 | 4.37 ppb | 8,741 |
| Billerica Water Works | Billerica, MA | 108 of 108 | 4.34 ppb | 40,243 |
* 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 Bromate, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaughn WC Inc | Bakersfield, CA | 3 of 13 | 7.92 ppb | 29,825 |
| City of Emporia* | Emporia, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 24,799 |
| City of Casper* | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 57,500 |
| Concord Water Department | Concord, MA | 24 of 36 | 5.01 ppb | 16,306 |
| City of Carlsbad | Carlsbad, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 84,838 |
| Rainbow Municipal WD | Fallbrook, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 19,611 |
| Ramona Municipal WD | Ramona, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 40,000 |
| Valley Center MWD* | Valley Center, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 25,450 |
| Vallecitos Water District | San Marcos, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 94,871 |
| Rincon Del Diablo MWD(ID-1) | Escondido, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 24,545 |
| City of Santa Barbara Water Department* | Santa Barbara, CA | 35 of 36 | 4.69 ppb | 92,371 |
| McAlester PWA* | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 17,783 |
| Billerica Water Works | Billerica, MA | 108 of 108 | 4.34 ppb | 40,243 |
| City of Fargo* | Fargo, ND | 27 of 35 | 4.22 ppb | 120,762 |
| City of West Fargo | West Fargo, ND | 27 of 35 | 4.22 ppb | 34,858 |
| Rockdale County Water System | Conyers, GA | 22 of 28 | 4.03 ppb | 72,621 |
| Denton County FWSD 7 Lantana | Houston, TX | 34 of 36 | 3.99 ppb | 10,518 |
| City of Corinth | Corinth, TX | 34 of 36 | 3.99 ppb | 23,568 |
| Valdosta* | Valdosta, GA | 19 of 27 | 3.71 ppb | 51,769 |
| Moorhead* | Moorhead, MN | 30 of 36 | 3.66 ppb | 40,000 |
| Antelope Valley - East Kern Water Agency* | Palmdale, CA | 34 of 58 | 3.59 ppb | 114,260 |
| Town of Gilbert | Gilbert, AZ | 50 of 65 | 3.35 ppb | 247,600 |
| Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources* | Lawrenceville, GA | 40 of 62 | 3.34 ppb | 795,657 |
| City of Chandler | Chandler, AZ | 7 of 56 | 3.12 ppb | 247,328 |
| Ashwaubenon Waterworks* | Green Bay, WI | 36 of 36 | 2.75 ppb | 17,730 |
| Green Bay Waterworks* | Green Bay, WI | 36 of 36 | 2.75 ppb | 104,057 |
| City of Winfield* | Winfield, KS | 5 of 12 | 2.61 ppb | 12,258 |
| North Wales Water Authority* | North Wales, PA | 36 of 36 | 2.60 ppb | 68,656 |
| Ashland Water and Sewer Department* | Ashland, MA | 60 of 102 | 2.59 ppb | 16,593 |
| El Paso Water Utilities* | El Paso, TX | 18 of 20 | 2.32 ppb | 672,538 |
| East Biggs Water System | San Dimas, TX | 18 of 20 | 2.32 ppb | 15,000 |
| Lower Valley Water District* | Clint, TX | 18 of 20 | 2.32 ppb | 53,298 |
| City of Laramie* | Laramie, WY | 2 of 2 | 2.25 ppb | 28,000 |
| City of Martinez | Martinez, CA | 18 of 29 | 2.23 ppb | 35,375 |
| City of Napa* | Napa, CA | 9 of 17 | 2.22 ppb | 172,102 |
| El Paso Water Company | Derby, KS | 12 of 36 | 2.22 ppb | 23,234 |
| City of Wichita* | Wichita, KS | 12 of 36 | 2.22 ppb | 388,413 |
| Town of Apex* | Apex, NC | 26 of 36 | 2.12 ppb | 44,164 |
| Cary* | Apex, NC | 26 of 36 | 2.12 ppb | 145,000 |
| City of Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | 6 of 6 | 2.12 ppb | 277,348 |
| Albuquerque Water System* | Albuquerque, NM | 30 of 34 | 1.93 ppb | 601,983 |
| Oklahoma City* | Oklahoma City, OK | 3 of 40 | 1.79 ppb | 630,000 |
| Charleston* | Charleston, IL | 9 of 12 | 1.78 ppb | 15,500 |
| City of Wilsonville* | Wilsonville, OR | 17 of 22 | 1.57 ppb | 18,095 |
| City of Sherwood | Sherwood, OR | 17 of 22 | 1.57 ppb | 18,205 |
| City of Denton* | Denton, TX | 54 of 71 | 1.56 ppb | 131,712 |
| Clarksville Waterworks* | Clarksville, AR | 12 of 36 | 1.41 ppb | 19,307 |
| Alameda County Water District | Fremont, CA | 1 of 1 | 1.40 ppb | 340,000 |
| City of Waco* | Waco, TX | 58 of 318 | 1.40 ppb | 130,194 |
| Milwaukee Waterworks* | Milwaukee, WI | 34 of 105 | 1.38 ppb | 647,290 |
* 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 Bromate, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.