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
739
utilities detected
45 million
people served
28
states over health guideline
746
utilities over health guideline
42 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 | 42 | 3,016,916 | 42 | 3,016,916 | |||
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County Rural Water District 15 | Iola, KS | 42 of 43 | 8.06 ppb | 135 |
| Iola, City of* | Iola, KS | 42 of 43 | 8.06 ppb | 5,553 |
| 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 |
| Lyon County Rural Water District 4 | Neosho Rapids, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 980 |
| Hartford, City of | Hartford, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 367 |
| Olpe, City of* | Olpe, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 537 |
| Lyon County Rural Water District 5 | Emporia, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 1,310 |
| Lyon County Rural Water District 2* | Emporia, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 750 |
| 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 |
| City of Emporia* | Emporia, KS | 8 of 18 | 7.52 ppb | 24,799 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Pioneer Water and Sewer District | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 1,500 |
| Sandy Lake Estates- Isd | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 150 |
| Midwest, Town Of | Midwest, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 404 |
| Wardwell Water & Sewer District | Mills, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 3,252 |
| 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 |
| City of Casper* | Casper, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 57,500 |
| Lakeview Improvement & Service District | Mills, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 50 |
| Edgerton, Town Of | Edgerton, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 195 |
| Thirty-three Mile Road I & SD | Mills, WY | 18 of 21 | 6.43 ppb | 183 |
| 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 |
| San Diego County Water Authority* | Escondido, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 0 |
| City of Carlsbad | Carlsbad, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 84,838 |
| Vallecitos Water District | San Marcos, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 94,871 |
| Valley Center MWD* | Valley Center, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 25,450 |
| Ramona Municipal WD | Ramona, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 40,000 |
| Rainbow Municipal WD | Fallbrook, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 19,611 |
| Rincon Del Diablo MWD(ID-1) | Escondido, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 24,545 |
| 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 #9 (mcalester) | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 872 |
| 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 #6 (alderson) | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 300 |
| Pittsburg County Rural Water District #5 | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 1,750 |
| 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 |
| Rincon Del Diablo MWD(ID-1) | Escondido, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 24,545 |
| Rainbow Municipal WD | Fallbrook, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 19,611 |
| City of Carlsbad | Carlsbad, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 84,838 |
| Ramona Municipal WD | Ramona, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 40,000 |
| Vallecitos Water District | San Marcos, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 94,871 |
| Valley Center MWD* | Valley Center, CA | 32 of 33 | 4.91 ppb | 25,450 |
| 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 |
| Green Bay Waterworks* | Green Bay, WI | 36 of 36 | 2.75 ppb | 104,057 |
| Ashwaubenon Waterworks* | Green Bay, WI | 36 of 36 | 2.75 ppb | 17,730 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| El Paso Water Utilities* | El Paso, TX | 18 of 20 | 2.32 ppb | 672,538 |
| City of Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | 9 of 9 | 2.29 ppb | 277,348 |
| 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 |
| City of Wichita* | Wichita, KS | 12 of 36 | 2.22 ppb | 388,413 |
| El Paso Water Company | Derby, KS | 12 of 36 | 2.22 ppb | 23,234 |
| Cary* | Apex, NC | 26 of 36 | 2.12 ppb | 145,000 |
| Town of Apex* | Apex, NC | 26 of 36 | 2.12 ppb | 44,164 |
| 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 |
| Greendale Waterworks | Greendale, WI | 34 of 105 | 1.38 ppb | 14,046 |
* 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.