Atrazine
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Atrazine is a herbicide commonly detected in drinking water that comes from cornfield and other agricultural runoff. It is a hormone disrupter that harms the male and female reproductive systems of people and wildlife. Read More.
Federal laws allow up to 3 parts per billion of atrazine in treated tap water. Water suppliers average atrazine measurements collected over a year, which means that the reported values underestimate intense spikes of elevated exposures during the periods in late spring and early summer when atrazine is applied in large amounts on farm fields.
Human epidemiological studies suggest that federal standards for atrazine are insufficient to protect public health. In 1999 the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment set a public health goal of 0.15 parts per billion for atrazine in drinking water, based on a study finding increased rates of breast cancer in rats exposed to the chemical. California’s legal maximum for atrazine in tap water is 1 ppb.
2015-2017:
35
states detected
2,094
utilities detected
44 million
people served
22
states over health guideline
1,375
utilities over health guideline
16 million
people served over health guideline
1
states over legal limit
2
utilities over legal limit
848
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for atrazine
Harm to the developing fetus
Hormone disruption
Harm to the reproductive system
Changes in the nervous system
Changes in brain and behavior
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 atrazine was defined by EWG based on epidemiological studies of human exposure to atrazine in drinking water.. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus, harm to the reproductive system and hormone disruption.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 3 ppb
The legal limit for atrazine, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit does not fully protect against harm to the reproductive system, harm to the developing fetus, and hormone disruption.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting atrazine in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 392 | 6,488,154 | 640 | 13,512,417 | |||
| Maryland | 4 | 56,692 | 20 | 3,920,861 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 16 | 487,947 | 53 | 3,360,446 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2,939,040 | |||
| Missouri | 177 | 2,895,280 | 165 | 2,900,112 | |||
| Ohio | 39 | 510,431 | 104 | 2,724,575 | |||
| Kansas | 344 | 1,970,115 | 385 | 2,244,366 | |||
| Indiana | 40 | 1,289,656 | 76 | 1,842,875 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 53 | 1,409,552 | |||
| Nebraska | 8 | 288,544 | 35 | 1,039,894 | |||
| North Carolina | 30 | 226,935 | 66 | 920,565 | |||
| Iowa | 42 | 260,785 | 62 | 853,327 | |||
| Kentucky | 33 | 329,257 | 70 | 845,501 | |||
| Illinois | 188 | 545,483 | 186 | 798,330 | |||
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 3 | 675,882 | |||
| Louisiana | 6 | 92,685 | 11 | 658,905 | |||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 13 | 655,091 | |||
| District Of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 648,882 | |||
| New York | 5 | 6,601 | 18 | 635,260 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 8 | 504,895 | |||
| Tennessee | 24 | 317,127 | 48 | 480,369 | |||
| South Carolina | 4 | 82,568 | 11 | 377,503 | |||
| Hawaii | 5 | 4,582 | 14 | 234,060 | |||
| Massachusetts | 1 | 54 | 2 | 40,544 | |||
| New Mexico | 1 | 166 | 2 | 39,674 | |||
| Alabama | 2 | 34,695 | 3 | 38,538 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33,816 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19,354 | |||
| Oklahoma | 13 | 18,115 | 12 | 17,871 | |||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15,865 | |||
| California | 1 | 6,309 | 1 | 6,309 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5,490 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4,960 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2,523 | |||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1,330 | |||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | 2 | 345 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce atrazine
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of atrazine, 2015-2017
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk County Rural Water District 2 | Howard, KS | 4 of 4 | 4.03 ppb | 206 |
| Howard, City of* | Howard, KS | 4 of 4 | 4.03 ppb | 642 |
| Russell, City of | Russell, KS | 5 of 7 | 2.41 ppb | 4,484 |
| Richmond, City of | Richmond, KS | 4 of 4 | 2.30 ppb | 457 |
| Beloit, City of* | Beloit, KS | 6 of 6 | 2.19 ppb | 3,792 |
| Mitchell County Rural Water District 1 | Beloit, KS | 6 of 6 | 2.19 ppb | 345 |
| Colby, City of | Colby, KS | 9 of 9 | 2.14 ppb | 5,388 |
| Udall, City of | Udall, KS | 1 of 2 | 2.05 ppb | 738 |
| Carbondale, City of* | Carbondale, KS | 4 of 4 | 1.88 ppb | 1,405 |
| Hume PWS | Hume, MO | 2 of 3 | 1.87 ppb | 336 |
| Parker, City of | Parker, KS | 2 of 3 | 1.87 ppb | 273 |
| Mound City, City of | Mound City, KS | 2 of 3 | 1.87 ppb | 682 |
| Linn County Rural Water District 1 | La Cygne, KS | 2 of 3 | 1.87 ppb | 1,200 |
| Blue Mound, City of | Blue Mound, KS | 2 of 3 | 1.87 ppb | 275 |
| Public Wholesale WSD 13* | Mound City, KS | 2 of 3 | 1.87 ppb | 16,053 |
| Linn County Rural Water District 2* | Mound City, KS | 2 of 3 | 1.87 ppb | 1,960 |
| Oswego, City of* | Oswego, KS | 5 of 9 | 1.62 ppb | 1,781 |
| Labette County Rural Water District 1c | Oswego, KS | 5 of 9 | 1.62 ppb | 285 |
| Mitchell County Rural Water District 3* | Beloit, KS | 4 of 4 | 1.53 ppb | 2,048 |
| Tipton, City of | Tipton, KS | 4 of 4 | 1.53 ppb | 207 |
| Mitchell County Rural Water District 2* | Glen Elder, KS | 4 of 4 | 1.53 ppb | 1,291 |
| Hunter, City of | Hunter, KS | 4 of 4 | 1.53 ppb | 56 |
| Wakefield, City of | Wakefield, KS | 1 of 1 | 1.50 ppb | 967 |
| Lane, City of | Lane, KS | 4 of 4 | 1.47 ppb | 222 |
| Franklin County Rural Water District 6* | Rantoul, KS | 4 of 4 | 1.47 ppb | 2,960 |
| Concordia PWS* | Concordia, MO | 12 of 14 | 1.47 ppb | 2,500 |
| Emma PWS* | Emma, MO | 12 of 14 | 1.47 ppb | 205 |
| Maryville* | Maryville, MO | 13 of 13 | 1.47 ppb | 11,972 |
| Baxter Springs, City of* | Baxter Springs, KS | 1 of 9 | 1.44 ppb | 4,073 |
| Carthage | Carthage, IL | 6 of 12 | 1.43 ppb | 2,725 |
| Oakley, City of | Oakley, KS | 4 of 4 | 1.41 ppb | 2,075 |
| Atchison County Rural Water District 6 | Atchison, KS | 3 of 9 | 1.39 ppb | 670 |
| City of Atchison* | Atchison, KS | 3 of 9 | 1.39 ppb | 10,771 |
| Atchison County Rural Water District 1 | Atchison, KS | 3 of 9 | 1.39 ppb | 490 |
| Atchison County Rural Water District 3 | Atchison, KS | 3 of 9 | 1.39 ppb | 110 |
| Garnett, City of* | Garnett, KS | 7 of 11 | 1.34 ppb | 3,295 |
| Anderson County Rural Water District 1 | Garnett, KS | 7 of 11 | 1.34 ppb | 37 |
| West Warren-Viola U. D. | Morrison, TN | 3 of 10 | 1.34 ppb | 15,954 |
| Protection, City of* | Protection, KS | 1 of 7 | 1.26 ppb | 527 |
| Comanche County Rural Water District 1 | Protection, KS | 1 of 7 | 1.26 ppb | 57 |
| Vandalia PWS | Vandalia, MO | 10 of 13 | 1.25 ppb | 2,529 |
| Saline County Rural Water District 2 | Gypsum, KS | 1 of 1 | 1.20 ppb | 465 |
| Riley, City of | Riley, KS | 2 of 4 | 1.16 ppb | 994 |
| Napoleon City* | Napoleon, OH | 24 of 28 | 1.14 ppb | 8,749 |
| Florida Village | Napoleon, OH | 24 of 28 | 1.14 ppb | 350 |
| Malinta Village* | Malinta, OH | 24 of 28 | 1.14 ppb | 325 |
| Liberty Center Village | Liberty Center, OH | 24 of 28 | 1.14 ppb | 1,180 |
| Henry County Regional Water & Sewer District - Co. Rd. P | Napoleon, OH | 24 of 28 | 1.14 ppb | 54 |
| Henry County Regional Wsd- Sr 108 | Napoleon, OH | 24 of 28 | 1.14 ppb | 267 |
| Lexington PWS* | Lexington, MO | 8 of 13 | 1.09 ppb | 4,300 |
* 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 Atrazine, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Wholesale WSD 13* | Mound City, KS | 2 of 3 | 1.87 ppb | 16,053 |
| Maryville* | Maryville, MO | 13 of 13 | 1.47 ppb | 11,972 |
| City of Atchison* | Atchison, KS | 3 of 9 | 1.39 ppb | 10,771 |
| West Warren-Viola U. D. | Morrison, TN | 3 of 10 | 1.34 ppb | 15,954 |
| City of Gardner | Gardner, KS | 3 of 3 | 0.997 ppb | 20,667 |
| Springfield Water System* | Springfield, TN | 5 of 13 | 0.917 ppb | 38,305 |
| City of Ottawa* | Ottawa, KS | 3 of 3 | 0.883 ppb | 12,403 |
| Leavenworth Water Department* | Leavenworth, KS | 3 of 6 | 0.762 ppb | 36,000 |
| Fort Leavenworth American Water Ent Inc | Fort Leavenworth, KS | 1 of 1 | 0.760 ppb | 12,934 |
| Public Wholesale WSD 5* | Iola, KS | 7 of 10 | 0.681 ppb | 12,192 |
| Newark City PWS | Newark, OH | 5 of 17 | 0.674 ppb | 47,573 |
| Hardin County Water District #1* | Radcliff, KY | 2 of 8 | 0.600 ppb | 27,033 |
| Murphysboro* | Murphysboro, IL | 13 of 13 | 0.600 ppb | 11,915 |
| City of Topeka* | Topeka, KS | 35 of 37 | 0.585 ppb | 165,000 |
| Thomas Hill PWSD 1* | Moberly, MO | 7 of 12 | 0.548 ppb | 10,315 |
| Indiana American Water - Muncie | Greenwood, IN | 10 of 13 | 0.500 ppb | 65,708 |
| Lewisburg Water System* | Lewsiburg, TN | 3 of 4 | 0.486 ppb | 19,208 |
| City of Olathe* | Olathe, KS | 3 of 3 | 0.450 ppb | 133,062 |
| City of Midlothian* | Midlothian, TX | 8 of 9 | 0.428 ppb | 16,728 |
| Del-Co Water Company Inc.* | Delaware, OH | 21 of 22 | 0.428 ppb | 141,407 |
| Speedway Water Works | Speedway, IN | 7 of 9 | 0.400 ppb | 11,812 |
| Aqua Ohio - Tiffin | Tiffin, OH | 9 of 14 | 0.398 ppb | 17,963 |
| Aqua Ohio - Marion | Marion, OH | 6 of 12 | 0.398 ppb | 41,925 |
| City of Parsons* | Parsons, KS | 2 of 3 | 0.370 ppb | 10,174 |
| Athens Utilities* | Athens, AL | 2 of 12 | 0.367 ppb | 27,534 |
| Piqua City PWS | Piqua, OH | 8 of 18 | 0.365 ppb | 20,522 |
| Sidney City PWS | Sidney, OH | 4 of 18 | 0.336 ppb | 21,229 |
| Water District 1 of Johnson County | Kansas City, KS | 11 of 11 | 0.325 ppb | 331,900 |
| City of Garden City* | Garden City, KS | 1 of 4 | 0.325 ppb | 27,004 |
| Hannibal* | Hannibal, MO | 5 of 12 | 0.316 ppb | 17,916 |
| Mattoon* | Mattoon, IL | 4 of 12 | 0.313 ppb | 19,000 |
| City of Beeville* | Beeville, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.303 ppb | 15,039 |
| Bedford City Utilities* | Bedford, IN | 3 of 12 | 0.300 ppb | 14,000 |
| City of Greenville* | Greenville, TX | 3 of 3 | 0.300 ppb | 26,800 |
| City of Dodge City | Dodge City, KS | 13 of 28 | 0.297 ppb | 28,117 |
| City of Rockport* | Rockport, TX | 3 of 3 | 0.297 ppb | 26,450 |
| City of Portland | Portland, TX | 3 of 3 | 0.297 ppb | 20,000 |
| Fremont City | Fremont, OH | 9 of 12 | 0.293 ppb | 16,677 |
| Pennsylvania American Water Company - Indiana D | Indiana, PA | 3 of 7 | 0.286 ppb | 24,877 |
| Citizens Water - Indianapolis* | Indianapolis, IN | 217 of 385 | 0.279 ppb | 814,338 |
| El Paso Water Company | Derby, KS | 2 of 3 | 0.273 ppb | 23,234 |
| City of Wichita* | Wichita, KS | 2 of 3 | 0.273 ppb | 388,413 |
| City of Garland | Garland, TX | 8 of 8 | 0.266 ppb | 236,786 |
| City of Murphy | Murphy, TX | 8 of 8 | 0.266 ppb | 19,850 |
| City of Wylie | Wylie, TX | 8 of 8 | 0.266 ppb | 41,043 |
| East Fork SUD | Wylie, TX | 8 of 8 | 0.266 ppb | 13,596 |
| City of Richardson | Richardson, TX | 8 of 8 | 0.266 ppb | 104,300 |
| Town of Prosper | Prosper, TX | 8 of 8 | 0.266 ppb | 22,650 |
| City of Frisco* | Frisco, TX | 8 of 8 | 0.266 ppb | 159,000 |
| City of Allen | Allen, TX | 8 of 8 | 0.266 ppb | 93,528 |
* 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 Atrazine, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.