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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2019 UPDATE

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Benzo[a]pyrene

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Benzo[a]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, or PAH, released from combustion of fossil fuels and waste incinerators. PAHs increase the risk of cancer; damage the immune, nervous and reproductive systems; and can harm developing fetuses.

2015-2017:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

23

states detected

160

utilities detected

3.4 million

people served

18

states over health guideline

86

utilities over health guideline

611,000

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for benzo[a]pyrene

Cancer

Harm to the immune system

Harm to reproduction and child development

Change to the central nervous system

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.007 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.007 ppb for benzo[a]pyrene 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) 0.2 ppb

The legal limit for benzo[a]pyrene, established in 1992, 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 PAH exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting benzo[a]pyrene in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Indiana006831,490
Louisiana1031,67816762,028
Arkansas27,20714351,471
Arizona003297,396
North Carolina7183,03217230,595
Kentucky857,42218207,060
Florida411,16310158,092
Pennsylvania23141,44525148,244
California0010136,463
Connecticut00398,946
Rhode Island467,053467,053
Illinois437,451550,160
New York535,120740,998
Texas424,138528,531
Nevada0025,700
Alabama14,17014,170
Hawaii13,40013,400
Wisconsin32,59332,593
Ohio22,28822,288
Vermont31,79431,794
Oregon31,03931,039
Idaho13901390
Nebraska160160
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce benzo[a]pyrene

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of benzo[a]pyrene, 2015-2017

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Derby Center Water System*Derby, VT1 of 20.300 ppb1,400
Shattuck Hill Mobile Home ParkLyndonville, VT1 of 20.300 ppb129
Derby Mobile Home ParkMontpelier, VT1 of 20.300 ppb265
Pine Grove Estates Water SystemCypress, TX1 of 10.120 ppb240
Pike Township Municipal Authority*Curwensville, PA1 of 20.110 ppb4,500
Grampian Borough Penn Township MaGrampian, PA1 of 20.110 ppb1,400
Highridge Water AuthorityBlairsville, PA1 of 60.0933 ppb12,000
Lakeview Acres Lot OwnersJohnson Lake, NE1 of 130.0735 ppb60
Powhatan Point Public Water System*Powhatan Point, OH1 of 40.0500 ppb1,807
York Township Water Authority Public Water SystemPowhatan Point, OH1 of 40.0500 ppb481
Camden Water and Sewer Department*Camden, AL1 of 60.0500 ppb4,170
Ponderosa Pines Water CompanyLa Pine, OR1 of 20.0500 ppb874
Kreamer Municipal AuthorityKreamer, PA1 of 40.0450 ppb980
Municipal Authority of Washington TownshipBelle Vernon, PA1 of 30.0433 ppb9,100
Bee's Rv ResortClermont, FL1 of 10.0400 ppb158
Desales UniversityCenter Valley, PA1 of 40.0375 ppb2,000
Beaver Falls Municipal Authority*Beaver Falls, PA1 of 30.0367 ppb50,000
Borough of ConwayConway, PA1 of 30.0367 ppb2,290
Zelienople BoroughZelienople, PA1 of 30.0367 ppb4,123
Frostproof, City ofFrostproof, FL2 of 60.0320 ppb3,550
Danville Municipal Water Authority*Danville, PA2 of 20.0310 ppb4,897
Valley Township Municipal AuthorityDanville, PA2 of 20.0310 ppb95
Mahoning Township Municipal AuthorityDanville, PA2 of 20.0310 ppb1,507
Blocker Crossroads Water Supply CorporationMarshall, TX1 of 60.0300 ppb1,602
East Hempfield Water AuthorityLandisville, PA2 of 160.0300 ppb16,761
Borough of AtglenAtglen, PA1 of 50.0300 ppb1,200
Dixon Correctional InstituteJackson, LA2 of 20.0290 ppb1,700
Leitchfield Water Works*Leitchfield, KY1 of 20.0280 ppb8,438
Harris County MUD 53Houston, TX1 of 150.0267 ppb16,164
Ne Woodford County Water DistrictVersailles, KY1 of 20.0235 ppb2,644
So Woodford County Water DistrictVersailles, KY1 of 20.0235 ppb4,218
Versailles Water System*Versailles, KY1 of 20.0235 ppb17,822
Kingston Water District*Kingston, NY1 of 30.0233 ppb32,310
Hillside Acres Water CompanyHurley, NY1 of 30.0233 ppb460
Golden Hill Water DistrictKingston, NY1 of 30.0233 ppb1,600
East Kingston Water DistrictLake Katrine, NY1 of 30.0233 ppb480
Spring Lake Water DistrictLake Katrine, NY1 of 30.0233 ppb270
Northern Cambria Municipal WaterNorthern Cambria, PA1 of 70.0229 ppb4,500
Naval Station, NewportNewport, RI7 of 550.0218 ppb7,871
United States Navy (fort Adams)Newport, RI7 of 550.0218 ppb318
City of Newport*Newport, RI7 of 550.0218 ppb42,000
Portsmouth Water & Fire DistrictPortsmouth, RI7 of 550.0218 ppb16,864
Dequeen Water WorkDequeen, AR1 of 20.0200 ppb6,594
Kuttawa Water Department*Kuttawa, KY1 of 10.0200 ppb1,143
Midway Water SystemSarepta, LA2 of 40.0190 ppb450
Coal City*Coal City, IL1 of 70.0187 ppb4,797
Carbon HillCoal City, IL1 of 70.0187 ppb392
Cove City, Town ofCove City, NC1 of 230.0178 ppb440
Craven County Water System*New Bern, NC1 of 230.0178 ppb31,000
Rocky Branch Water SystemFarmerville, LA2 of 80.0178 ppb1,410

* 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 Benzo[a]pyrene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Highridge Water AuthorityBlairsville, PA1 of 60.0933 ppb12,000
Beaver Falls Municipal Authority*Beaver Falls, PA1 of 30.0367 ppb50,000
East Hempfield Water AuthorityLandisville, PA2 of 160.0300 ppb16,761
Harris County MUD 53Houston, TX1 of 150.0267 ppb16,164
Versailles Water System*Versailles, KY1 of 20.0235 ppb17,822
Kingston Water District*Kingston, NY1 of 30.0233 ppb32,310
Portsmouth Water & Fire DistrictPortsmouth, RI7 of 550.0218 ppb16,864
City of Newport*Newport, RI7 of 550.0218 ppb42,000
Craven County Water System*New Bern, NC1 of 230.0178 ppb31,000
Princeton Water & Sewer Commission*Princeton, KY1 of 20.0150 ppb10,413
West Feliciana Consol Wwks District 13St. Francisville, LA4 of 80.0135 ppb10,956
Orange Water & Sewer AuthorityCarrboro, NC1 of 20.01000 ppb83,300
St Charles*St Charles, IL1 of 180.00817 ppb32,190
Robeson County Water System*Maxton, NC1 of 370.00811 ppb67,419
WarrenvilleWarrenville, IL1 of 160.00650 ppb12,709
West Jefferson Waterworks District 2*Jefferson, LA2 of 80.00600 ppb188,770
Central Arkansas Water*Little Rock, AR1 of 120.00500 ppb313,504
Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission*Shelbyville, KY1 of 60.00333 ppb23,760
Eubank Water System*Eubank, KY1 of 100.00280 ppb12,492
Southeastern Water Assoc/Nelson Valley*Somerset, KY1 of 100.00280 ppb21,895
Somerset Water Service*Somerset, KY1 of 100.00280 ppb29,700
Kingman Municipal WaterKingman, AZ2 of 300.00217 ppb45,000
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 60.00200 ppb128,729
Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System*Clinton, CT1 of 400.00158 ppb98,390
North Lenoir Water CorpKinston, NC1 of 280.00143 ppb14,669
Bayleaf MasterRaleigh, NC1 of 2120.00109 ppb16,500
City of ChandlerChandler, AZ1 of 970.000206 ppb247,328
Baton Rouge Water Company*Baton Rouge, LA2 of 2280.000175 ppb527,067
Citizens Water - Indianapolis*Indianapolis, IN1 of 3800.000105 ppb814,338

* 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 Benzo[a]pyrene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.