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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2019 UPDATE

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Cadmium

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Cadmium is a toxic metal found in food and drinking water. It has been linked to kidney toxicity, bone damage, cancer, and damage to developing fetuses.

2015-2017:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

39

states detected

641

utilities detected

7.9 million

people served

38

states over health guideline

499

utilities over health guideline

4.1 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for cadmium

Cancer

Harm to the kidney

Change in behavior

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.04 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.04 ppb for cadmium 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 harm to internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for cadmium, established in 1991, was based on research studies of cadmium toxicity conducted in the 1970s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to cadmium exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting cadmium in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Texas101,723,839101,723,839
California61194,488981,664,593
Colorado3158,408651,530,188
Florida97833,800100891,310
Wisconsin59475,81070655,859
New Jersey35163,93369540,902
Virginia1123,53115179,414
Arkansas796,728796,728
Pennsylvania1441,9441893,124
Indiana1058,2671058,267
Missouri4157,1644157,164
Louisiana1653,4181653,418
Maryland649,713649,713
Maine345,490345,490
Illinois433,236433,236
Montana331,759331,759
Utah824,1691227,836
Arizona720,367720,367
Kentucky513,744618,327
New York1516,6711817,450
South Carolina1510,3432014,567
Delaware18,55918,559
New Mexico140028,232
Massachusetts38,02038,020
Oklahoma36,58836,588
West Virginia34,38434,384
Ohio24,33424,334
Nevada22,38622,386
Alabama22,37022,370
Washington62,31762,317
Tennessee12,21512,215
South Dakota0011,768
Wyoming41,19441,194
Connecticut39203920
Oregon38613861
Idaho18401840
North Carolina48064806
Minnesota18001800
Mississippi12501250
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce cadmium

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Utilities with the highest amounts of cadmium, 2015-2017

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Garden Acres Mobile Home ParkCalabasas, OK1 of 113.7 ppb225
Vista Del Toro WsSalinas, CA11 of 116.82 ppb87
Crown King Water CompanyGlendale, AZ16 of 226.55 ppb203
Milan Water WorksMilan, IN1 of 14.30 ppb1,899
Holton Community Water CorporationHolton, IN1 of 14.30 ppb2,363
Hoosier Hills Regional Water District*Milan, IN1 of 14.30 ppb8,847
Versailles Water WorksVersailles, IN1 of 14.30 ppb1,784
Edgemere Condominium Association Inc.East Hampton, CT1 of 34.00 ppb540
Valley Springs Water CompanyCoatesville, PA1 of 13.40 ppb2,500
Del Oro East Plano DistrictChico, CA1 of 13.30 ppb50
Gold Hill Mobilehome ParkRoseville, CA1 of 13.20 ppb75
York County SheltersAlfred, ME1 of 13.00 ppb25
Rome Water UtilityNekoosa, WI1 of 13.00 ppb2,775
Bluewater Lake Mutual Domestic Water Consumers AssociationPrewitt, NM1 of 23.00 ppb400
Town of Ridgecrest Water SupplyRidgecrest, LA4 of 42.95 ppb683
Sandy Hook Water DistrictSandy Hook, KY1 of 12.90 ppb3,528
Desoto PWSDe Soto, MO12 of 132.89 ppb6,400
Sneedville Utility DistrictSneedville, TN1 of 12.83 ppb2,215
Heritage ParkFair Oaks, CA1 of 12.80 ppb40
Halcyon Water SystemHalcyon, CA1 of 12.60 ppb105
Calera Canyon Heights Homeowners AssociationSalinas, CA2 of 22.50 ppb39
Cal Am Water Company - BishopMonterey, CA2 of 22.50 ppb930
Del Oro Traver DistrictCoalinga, CA2 of 22.40 ppb500
Greenfield RanchettesGilbert, AZ1 of 12.30 ppb53
Clear Meadows S/dMint Hill, NC1 of 22.10 ppb163
Eagle Point S/dManning, SC3 of 42.06 ppb189
Russell Water DepartmentRussell, MA1 of 12.00 ppb1,228
Yoder Water System, Town OfYoder, WY1 of 12.00 ppb165
Barrett Lake Mobile Home and Rv LLCDulzura, CA1 of 12.00 ppb150
Prine Drive ApartmentsTumwater, WA1 of 12.00 ppb40
Yuba WaterworksYuba, WI1 of 12.00 ppb53
Mary Hill Park Sanitary DistrictFond Du Lac, WI1 of 12.00 ppb88
Navajo Water - Chaparral PinesDenver, AZ1 of 21.90 ppb237
Oaklane Mobile Village LLCRoseville, CA1 of 11.80 ppb75
H2o Inc.Arroyo Grande, CA1 of 11.70 ppb60
Clevenger Branch Members CorporationHollister, MO1 of 11.64 ppb150
Shady Lake Water AssociationNorth San Juan, CA1 of 11.60 ppb90
Fellowship Of FriendsOregon House, CA1 of 11.60 ppb325
Sl County Service Area No. 3 - SnowbirdRiverton, UT5 of 81.50 ppb3,600
Emil-mar SubdivisionOcala, FL1 of 11.50 ppb270
Park Hills PWSPark Hills, MO1 of 11.50 ppb8,566
Eden Waterworks SystemEden, UT1 of 11.50 ppb1,500
Tierra Verde Mutual Water CompanySalinas, CA1 of 11.50 ppb48
Guthries Sunshine ParkThonotosassa, FL1 of 11.50 ppb40
Robley Property MwsSalinas, CA1 of 11.40 ppb80
Santa Lucia Preserve WsCarmel, CA24 of 721.33 ppb347
Bailey Place Mobile Home ParkMulberry, FL1 of 11.30 ppb150
Timberlost Mobile Home ParkJoplin, MO1 of 11.29 ppb150
Town of Clayton Water SystemClayton, LA4 of 41.25 ppb723
Lena Water AssociationLena, MS1 of 21.25 ppb250

* 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 Cadmium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Acton MUD*Granbury, TX3 of 261.05 ppb19,125
Troy*Troy, MO1 of 40.850 ppb10,500
North Port UtilitiesNorth Port, FL1 of 30.667 ppb42,477
City of BartowBartow, FL2 of 30.667 ppb20,845
Helena Water SystemHelena, MT1 of 30.667 ppb31,005
Diablo Water DistrictOakley, CA1 of 30.467 ppb36,014
Minden Water SystemMinden, LA2 of 180.422 ppb16,950
Loves ParkLoves Park, IL1 of 50.380 ppb22,476
City of Rio Grande City*Rio Grande City, TX1 of 60.350 ppb17,901
Bordentown Water Departm*Bordentown, NJ1 of 10.330 ppb15,821
Speedway Water WorksSpeedway, IN1 of 40.325 ppb11,812
City of WestminsterWestminster, MD1 of 130.300 ppb35,256
Greencastle Department of Water*Greencastle, IN1 of 20.250 ppb12,699
Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Wells WDKennebunk, ME1 of 130.231 ppb31,440
City of Temple Terrace UtilityTemple Terrace, FL2 of 20.200 ppb31,062
University of South FloridaTampa, FL1 of 10.200 ppb46,237
Hurlburt Field AFB Water Sys.Hurlburt Field, FL1 of 50.200 ppb10,608
Frankfort Water WorksFrankfort, IN1 of 20.200 ppb16,422
Nipomo Comm. Services DistrictNipomo, CA1 of 50.180 ppb10,867
City of Havre De Grace*Havre De Grace, MD1 of 30.167 ppb14,000
United Water RahwayHighland Lakes, NJ1 of 30.120 ppb27,300
Monroe Twp MUAWilliamstown, NJ5 of 70.113 ppb36,100
City of LivingstonLivingston, CA1 of 90.111 ppb14,894
Lake Asbury WTPOrange Park, FL1 of 10.1000 ppb10,294
Indian River County UtilitiesVero Beach, FL1 of 20.1000 ppb109,286
Slippery Rock Municipal AuthoritySlippery Rock, PA1 of 20.1000 ppb15,778
Villages of Lake - Sumter - WTPs 1 3 & 5The Villages, FL1 of 70.1000 ppb24,533
Okeechobee Utility AuthorityOkeechobee, FL1 of 30.1000 ppb20,000
La Crosse WaterworksLa Crosse, WI1 of 110.0909 ppb53,000
Sanford Water DistrictSanford, ME3 of 550.0909 ppb14,025
City of Show LowShow Low, AZ7 of 90.0889 ppb17,139
Madison Water Utility*Madison, WI14 of 220.0875 ppb235,000
Cherokee MD*Colorado Springs, CO3 of 210.0862 ppb20,600
Mcguire Air Force BaseJoint Base Mdl, NJ2 of 60.0833 ppb12,227
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL2 of 60.0833 ppb128,729
St. Johns County Utilities-Ponte VedraPonte Vedra Beach, FL1 of 30.0667 ppb17,575
Dunedin Water SystemDunedin, FL1 of 30.0667 ppb40,093
Fillmore Water DepartmentFillmore, CA1 of 30.0667 ppb15,222
Green Bay Waterworks*Green Bay, WI1 of 20.0600 ppb104,057
Ashwaubenon Waterworks*Green Bay, WI1 of 20.0600 ppb17,730
San Antonio Water System*San Antonio, TX1 of 580.0586 ppb1,663,221
Glassboro Water Department*Glassboro, NJ1 of 40.0575 ppb24,238
Santa Paula Water System*Santa Paula, CA7 of 290.0552 ppb30,048
Hot Springs Utilities*Hot Springs, AR1 of 120.0550 ppb92,010
Bridgeton City Water DepartmentBridgeton, NJ1 of 40.0500 ppb22,770
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL1 of 70.0429 ppb236,944
City of Durango*Durango, CO3 of 140.0429 ppb23,069
Ridgewood WaterRidgewood, NJ8 of 1750.0367 ppb61,700
Germantown Water UtilityGermantown, WI2 of 60.0350 ppb20,027
Highridge Water AuthorityBlairsville, PA1 of 60.0333 ppb12,000

* 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 Cadmium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.