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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 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.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

17

states detected

145

utilities detected

4.6 million

people served

16

states over health guideline

92

utilities over health guideline

525,000

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
Texas1240262,289,805
Indiana13307843,437
Louisiana831,36212585,741
Nevada002328,932
Pennsylvania21142,87722143,878
Kentucky1586,80620143,308
North Carolina551,8051280,307
Rhode Island467,053467,053
New York535,120644,320
Maryland636,733636,733
Florida816,7731030,010
Arkansas822,381822,626
Alabama116,632116,632
Delaware111,350111,350
Wisconsin42,64242,642
Ohio22,28822,288
West Virginia27812781
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, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Derby Mobile Home ParkMontpelier, VT1 of 30.200 ppb265
Shattuck Hill Mobile Home ParkLyndonville, VT1 of 30.200 ppb129
Derby Center Water System*Derby, VT1 of 30.200 ppb1,400
Tannehill Park Inc.Erlanger, IN1 of 20.120 ppb330
Piney PointHollywood, MD1 of 20.0700 ppb672
Pine Grove Estates Water SystemCypress, TX1 of 20.0600 ppb240
Riddle FarmBerlin, MD1 of 20.0550 ppb600
Highridge Water Authority*Blairsville, PA1 of 140.0400 ppb16,000
Lakeview Acres Lot OwnersJohnson Lake, NE1 of 280.0341 ppb60
Dixon Correctional InstituteJackson,, LA2 of 20.0290 ppb1,700
Camden Water & Sewer Department*Camden, AL1 of 120.0250 ppb4,170
Ponderosa Pines Water CompanyLa Pine, OR1 of 40.0250 ppb900
York Township Water Authority Public Water SystemPowhatan Point, OH1 of 80.0250 ppb481
Powhatan Point Public Water System*Powhatan Point, OH1 of 80.0250 ppb1,807
Pike Township Municipal Authority*Curwensville, PA1 of 100.0220 ppb4,500
Grampian Borough Penn Township MaGrampian, PA1 of 100.0220 ppb1,400
Liberty Water Works*Liberty, KY2 of 40.0215 ppb2,302
Lynch Water WorksLynch, KY1 of 10.0210 ppb1,078
Bee's Rv ResortClermont, FL1 of 20.0200 ppb158
Dequeen Water WorkDequeen, AR2 of 80.0188 ppb6,594
Naval Station, NewportNewport, RI14 of 1160.0181 ppb7,871
United States Navy -fort AdamsNewport, RI14 of 1160.0181 ppb318
City of Newport*Newport, RI14 of 1160.0181 ppb42,000
Portsmouth Water & Fire DistrictPortsmouth, RI14 of 1160.0181 ppb16,864
Desales UniversityCenter Valley, PA1 of 90.0167 ppb2,000
Blocker Crossroads Water Supply CorporationMarshall, TX1 of 110.0164 ppb1,602
Frostproof, City ofFrostproof, FL2 of 120.0160 ppb3,550
Kreamer Municipal AuthorityKreamer, PA1 of 120.0150 ppb980
Harris County MUD 53Houston, TX1 of 270.0148 ppb16,164
Spring Lake Water DistrictLake Katrine, NY1 of 50.0140 ppb270
Golden Hill Water DistrictKingston, NY1 of 50.0140 ppb1,600
Hillside Acres Water CompanyHurley, NY1 of 50.0140 ppb460
Kingston Water District*Kingston, NY1 of 50.0140 ppb32,310
East Kingston Water DistrictLake Katrine, NY1 of 50.0140 ppb480
East Hempfield Water AuthorityLandisville, PA2 of 350.0137 ppb20,220
Coal City*Coal City, IL1 of 100.0131 ppb5,587
Carbon HillCarbon Hill, IL1 of 100.0131 ppb345
Lake TippecanoeSarasota, FL1 of 10.0130 ppb377
Deer Run Mobile Home CommunityMerrill, WI1 of 10.0130 ppb49
Vali-view Mobile Home ParkMontoursville, PA1 of 70.0129 ppb150
Colchester CommonsColchester, CT1 of 130.0123 ppb224
Craven County Water System*New Bern, NC1 of 340.0121 ppb32,500
Cove City, Town ofCove City, NC1 of 340.0121 ppb440
Municipal Authority of Washington TownshipBelle Vernon, PA1 of 110.0118 ppb9,100
Pence WaterworksPence, WI1 of 10.0110 ppb191
Beaver Falls Municipal Authority*Beaver Falls, PA1 of 100.0110 ppb50,000
Montreal Waterworks*Montreal, WI1 of 10.0110 ppb887
Zelienople BoroughZelienople, PA1 of 100.0110 ppb4,123
Flagler Beach Water Treatment Plant*Flagler Beach, FL1 of 50.0108 ppb4,858
Campton Water System*Campton, KY1 of 40.0108 ppb6,600

* 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 Authority*Blairsville, PA1 of 140.0400 ppb16,000
City of Newport*Newport, RI14 of 1160.0181 ppb42,000
Portsmouth Water & Fire DistrictPortsmouth, RI14 of 1160.0181 ppb16,864
Harris County MUD 53Houston, TX1 of 270.0148 ppb16,164
Kingston Water District*Kingston, NY1 of 50.0140 ppb32,310
East Hempfield Water AuthorityLandisville, PA2 of 350.0137 ppb20,220
Craven County Water System*New Bern, NC1 of 340.0121 ppb32,500
Beaver Falls Municipal Authority*Beaver Falls, PA1 of 100.0110 ppb50,000
Versailles Water System*Versailles, KY1 of 50.00940 ppb17,822
City of Cumberland*Cumberland, MD1 of 120.00917 ppb27,039
Wayne Water Districts*Goldsboro, NC1 of 1450.00690 ppb32,426
Douglas*Douglas, AL1 of 30.00667 ppb16,632
West Feliciana Consol Wwks District 13St. Francisville, LA4 of 180.00600 ppb10,956
Orange Water & Sewer AuthorityCarrboro, NC1 of 40.00500 ppb83,300
Angola Pump DistrictDover, DE1 of 100.00500 ppb11,350
St Charles*St. Charles, IL1 of 310.00474 ppb33,264
Robeson County Water System*Lumberton, NC1 of 800.00375 ppb64,295
WarrenvilleWarrenville, IL1 of 330.00315 ppb12,709
Bristol County Water Authority*Warren, RI1 of 320.00313 ppb51,000
West Jefferson Waterworks District 2*Jefferson, LA2 of 200.00240 ppb188,770
Somerset Water Service*Somerset, KY1 of 140.00200 ppb29,700
Southeastern Water Assoc/Nelson Valley*Somerset, KY1 of 140.00200 ppb21,895
Eubank Water System*Eubank, KY1 of 140.00200 ppb12,492
Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System*Clinton, CT1 of 480.00131 ppb98,390
Kingman Municipal WaterKingman, AZ2 of 500.00130 ppb45,000
Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission*Shelbyville, KY1 of 160.00125 ppb23,760
Beauregard Water Works District #3Dry Creek, LA2 of 480.000958 ppb21,600
City of Tyler*Tyler, TX1 of 320.000938 ppb104,798
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 160.000750 ppb127,700
Sacramento Suburban Water District*Sacramento, CA1 of 3810.000682 ppb171,200
North Lenoir Water CorpKinston, NC1 of 610.000656 ppb14,669
Sun Valley GidSun Valley, NV2 of 2000.000625 ppb17,000
Truckee Meadows Water Authority*Reno, NV2 of 2000.000625 ppb311,932
Bayleaf MasterCary, NC1 of 4480.000513 ppb15,565
Lee County WSCGiddings, TX1 of 390.000513 ppb12,030
City of Houston*Houston, TX1 of 1630.000245 ppb2,231,588
City of WebsterWebster, TX1 of 1630.000245 ppb13,710
City of South HoustonSouth Houston, TX1 of 1630.000245 ppb17,397
Citizens Water - Indianapolis*Indianapolis, IN2 of 7270.000193 ppb825,173
City of ChandlerChandler, AZ1 of 2050 ppb247,328
Baton Rouge Water Company*Baton Rouge, LA2 of 4120 ppb527,067

* 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.