Dibromoacetic acid
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Dibromoacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.
2015-2017:
45
states detected
14,505
utilities detected
154 million
people served
45
states over health guideline
14,360
utilities over health guideline
145 million
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for dibromoacetic acid
Cancer
Change to fetal growth and development
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.04 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.04 ppb for dibromoacetic acid was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a on-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting dibromoacetic acid in drinking water
UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
California | 925 | 30,091,644 | 938 | 31,301,064 | |||
Texas | 2,834 | 25,052,795 | 2,837 | 25,090,998 | |||
Illinois | 912 | 10,977,163 | 916 | 11,190,180 | |||
Ohio | 890 | 9,727,407 | 893 | 9,830,701 | |||
New Jersey | 338 | 7,698,006 | 351 | 8,012,626 | |||
North Carolina | 460 | 5,270,327 | 468 | 6,121,724 | |||
New York | 826 | 5,224,028 | 835 | 5,613,492 | |||
Virginia | 172 | 3,776,115 | 175 | 4,277,784 | |||
Louisiana | 758 | 3,947,923 | 767 | 4,058,558 | |||
Wisconsin | 448 | 3,392,675 | 472 | 3,680,555 | |||
Oklahoma | 603 | 3,165,812 | 603 | 3,165,812 | |||
Missouri | 328 | 3,088,907 | 333 | 3,117,209 | |||
South Carolina | 197 | 2,403,571 | 202 | 3,053,293 | |||
Massachusetts | 146 | 2,867,717 | 149 | 3,000,608 | |||
Colorado | 348 | 2,764,748 | 349 | 2,806,748 | |||
Pennsylvania | 236 | 2,731,352 | 236 | 2,793,528 | |||
Georgia | 101 | 1,749,635 | 111 | 2,685,107 | |||
Nevada | 48 | 2,486,810 | 48 | 2,486,810 | |||
Iowa | 506 | 1,967,074 | 506 | 1,967,074 | |||
Washington | 294 | 1,020,029 | 300 | 1,964,291 | |||
Kansas | 771 | 1,832,068 | 772 | 1,832,614 | |||
New Mexico | 279 | 1,691,631 | 292 | 1,749,142 | |||
Connecticut | 121 | 1,543,752 | 124 | 1,687,596 | |||
Minnesota | 190 | 1,390,284 | 190 | 1,390,284 | |||
Arkansas | 284 | 1,149,278 | 292 | 1,385,249 | |||
Utah | 85 | 1,280,378 | 86 | 1,316,378 | |||
Nebraska | 126 | 1,270,093 | 126 | 1,270,093 | |||
Hawaii | 45 | 314,182 | 49 | 1,186,165 | |||
West Virginia | 181 | 948,111 | 182 | 952,767 | |||
Mississippi | 208 | 881,065 | 208 | 881,065 | |||
Delaware | 38 | 741,091 | 41 | 812,541 | |||
District Of Columbia | 4 | 664,572 | 4 | 664,572 | |||
North Dakota | 165 | 474,813 | 167 | 501,239 | |||
Montana | 193 | 454,450 | 193 | 489,650 | |||
Rhode Island | 17 | 256,845 | 18 | 345,625 | |||
Wyoming | 149 | 285,737 | 140 | 286,372 | |||
New Hampshire | 49 | 266,205 | 49 | 266,205 | |||
Kentucky | 6 | 167,849 | 4 | 72,198 | |||
Idaho | 4 | 70,676 | 4 | 70,676 | |||
Alaska | 41 | 47,926 | 41 | 47,926 | |||
Maryland | 13 | 44,229 | 13 | 44,229 | |||
Michigan | 1 | 33,816 | 1 | 33,816 | |||
Alabama | 1 | 18,000 | 1 | 18,000 | |||
Maine | 11 | 7,181 | 11 | 7,181 | |||
Vermont | 6 | 5,761 | 6 | 5,761 | |||
South Dakota | 2 | 763 | 2 | 763 |
Filtering technologies that reduce dibromoacetic acid

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of dibromoacetic acid, 2015-2017
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Country Estates Water System South | West Monroe, LA | 4 of 4 | 57.1 ppb | 600 |
Town of Plain Dealing Water System | Plain Dealing, LA | 48 of 48 | 37.9 ppb | 2,733 |
Bianchi Flowers Inc. | Pescadero, CA | 5 of 7 | 37.1 ppb | 65 |
Litroe Water System | Marion, LA | 48 of 48 | 34.1 ppb | 369 |
Pleasant Hills-crossroads Water Systems | Joyce, LA | 52 of 52 | 33.8 ppb | 840 |
Wards Chapel Water System | Farmerville, LA | 44 of 44 | 32.5 ppb | 1,350 |
Concord Water System | Marion, LA | 48 of 48 | 29.4 ppb | 426 |
Mountain Park Public Works Authority | Mountain Park, OK | 12 of 12 | 27.0 ppb | 473 |
Millersview-doole Water Supply Corporation* | Millersview, TX | 24 of 24 | 26.0 ppb | 3,987 |
Holmesville Water System* | Downsville, LA | 48 of 48 | 25.9 ppb | 2,310 |
The Trails S/d | Chapel Hill, NC | 1 of 2 | 25.5 ppb | 246 |
Linville-haile Water System | Marion, LA | 46 of 48 | 25.1 ppb | 1,635 |
Tx Airstream Harbor Water* | Zavalla, TX | 12 of 12 | 24.9 ppb | 174 |
Rowena Water Supply Corporation | Rowena, TX | 12 of 12 | 24.2 ppb | 480 |
Turtle Cove Lot Owners Association | Freeport, TX | 12 of 12 | 23.7 ppb | 66 |
Coke County Water Supply Corporation | Robert Lee, TX | 22 of 24 | 23.5 ppb | 523 |
City of Paint Rock | Paint Rock, TX | 12 of 12 | 23.3 ppb | 247 |
Town of Friars Point | Friars Point, MS | 1 of 1 | 23.0 ppb | 1,200 |
Country Estates Water System North | West Monroe, LA | 34 of 38 | 22.8 ppb | 597 |
Indiahoma Public Works Authority | Indiahoma, OK | 11 of 11 | 22.2 ppb | 350 |
Panoramic Mesa Subdivision | Silt, CO | 5 of 5 | 21.7 ppb | 45 |
Union Parish Waterworks District 1 | Farmerville, LA | 38 of 40 | 21.6 ppb | 1,626 |
Nueces County WCID 3* | Robstown, TX | 47 of 48 | 21.5 ppb | 14,607 |
Comanche County Rural Water District #4* | Cache, OK | 19 of 19 | 21.1 ppb | 3,000 |
Harper County Rural Water District 2 | Anthony, KS | 1 of 1 | 21.0 ppb | 174 |
Jones Mcginty Water System | Jones, LA | 48 of 48 | 20.8 ppb | 801 |
City of Lueders | Lueders, TX | 22 of 24 | 20.8 ppb | 525 |
La Playa Subdivision Water System | Kirbyville, TX | 6 of 6 | 20.6 ppb | 59 |
Sardis Water System | Gilbert, LA | 48 of 48 | 20.4 ppb | 1,404 |
Sun N Fun Association | Zavalla, TX | 12 of 12 | 20.4 ppb | 77 |
Pleasant Valley Mobile Home Park | Dundee, NY | 2 of 2 | 20.0 ppb | 39 |
Kensington, City of | Kensington, KS | 1 of 1 | 20.0 ppb | 461 |
Merino, Town of | Fort Collins, CO | 10 of 10 | 19.9 ppb | 235 |
Ericksdahl Water Supply Corporation | Stamford, TX | 24 of 24 | 19.8 ppb | 275 |
River Acres Water Supply Corporation | Robstown, TX | 16 of 16 | 19.8 ppb | 2,700 |
Norton, City of | Norton, KS | 12 of 12 | 19.8 ppb | 2,846 |
Marion Water System | Marion, LA | 48 of 48 | 19.6 ppb | 1,146 |
Village of Calvin Water System | Calvin, LA | 46 of 48 | 19.3 ppb | 591 |
Rocky Branch Water System | Farmerville, LA | 48 of 48 | 19.2 ppb | 1,410 |
Eagle Cove Water Association | Friday Harbor, WA | 3 of 3 | 19.0 ppb | 60 |
City of Rio Hondo | Rio Hondo, TX | 17 of 17 | 19.0 ppb | 2,400 |
Walnut Ridge Estates Water System | Zavalla, TX | 11 of 12 | 18.8 ppb | 178 |
Village of Surfside Beach | Freeport, TX | 20 of 24 | 18.5 ppb | 3,477 |
City of Graford | Graford, TX | 16 of 17 | 18.3 ppb | 584 |
Pappas & Company (mendota) | Mendota, CA | 11 of 12 | 18.2 ppb | 25 |
Point Wilhite Ws* | Downsville, LA | 56 of 62 | 18.1 ppb | 1,950 |
Maysville Regional Water | White Cottage, OH | 24 of 24 | 18.1 ppb | 6,540 |
Coast Springs - Cal. Water Service (puc) | San Jose, CA | 4 of 4 | 18.0 ppb | 210 |
Pappas & Company (coalinga) | Mendota, CA | 11 of 12 | 17.5 ppb | 25 |
San Luis Hills | Los Banos, CA | 13 of 13 | 17.4 ppb | 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 Dibromoacetic acid, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nueces County WCID 3* | Robstown, TX | 47 of 48 | 21.5 ppb | 14,607 |
City of Abilene* | Abilene, TX | 96 of 96 | 14.5 ppb | 123,886 |
Southwest Ouachita Waterworks Inc. | West Monroe, LA | 40 of 40 | 14.4 ppb | 10,092 |
Agua SUD | Mission, TX | 48 of 48 | 14.2 ppb | 46,950 |
City of Mineral Wells* | Mineral Wells, TX | 41 of 48 | 14.1 ppb | 14,826 |
Military Highway WSC - Las Rusias WTP | Progreso, TX | 42 of 42 | 13.9 ppb | 14,292 |
City of San Angelo* | San Angelo, TX | 96 of 96 | 13.7 ppb | 100,450 |
City of Beeville* | Beeville, TX | 48 of 48 | 13.0 ppb | 15,039 |
Brownville Water System | West Monroe, LA | 28 of 36 | 12.5 ppb | 10,872 |
City of Raymondville | Raymondville, TX | 48 of 48 | 12.4 ppb | 11,288 |
Beaver Falls Municipal Authority* | Beaver Falls, PA | 4 of 4 | 12.3 ppb | 50,000 |
City of Lemoore | Lemoore, CA | 47 of 48 | 12.1 ppb | 24,945 |
City of Edinburg | Edinburg, TX | 96 of 96 | 12.0 ppb | 77,100 |
Hudson Water Supply Corporation | Lufkin, TX | 20 of 20 | 11.7 ppb | 10,211 |
Laguna Madre Water District | Port Isabel, TX | 48 of 48 | 11.6 ppb | 19,317 |
City of Rockport* | Rockport, TX | 48 of 48 | 11.4 ppb | 26,450 |
Nueces County WCID 4 | Port Aransas, TX | 48 of 48 | 11.1 ppb | 11,403 |
McAllen Public Utility | Mcallen, TX | 96 of 96 | 10.7 ppb | 168,909 |
City of Mercedes* | Mercedes, TX | 47 of 48 | 10.7 ppb | 15,700 |
City of Mission | Mission, TX | 48 of 48 | 10.7 ppb | 77,058 |
City of Donna | Donna, TX | 44 of 48 | 10.6 ppb | 16,176 |
City of Hays* | Hays, KS | 48 of 48 | 10.5 ppb | 21,044 |
Weirton Area Water Board* | Weirton, WV | 36 of 36 | 10.5 ppb | 22,694 |
City of Pharr | Pharr, TX | 92 of 96 | 9.73 ppb | 77,320 |
City of Midland | Midland, TX | 76 of 96 | 9.56 ppb | 132,950 |
West Hwy 80 Ark Road WS | West Monroe, LA | 66 of 96 | 9.53 ppb | 13,386 |
City of San Juan | San Juan, TX | 46 of 48 | 9.45 ppb | 30,000 |
City of Rio Grande City* | Rio Grande City, TX | 48 of 48 | 9.23 ppb | 17,901 |
City of Big Spring* | Big Spring, TX | 48 of 48 | 9.22 ppb | 27,282 |
West Monroe Water System | West Monroe, LA | 88 of 96 | 9.00 ppb | 15,930 |
Lemoore Naval Air Station | Nas Lemoore, CA | 58 of 60 | 8.85 ppb | 11,500 |
City of Weslaco* | Weslaco, TX | 48 of 48 | 8.71 ppb | 32,092 |
City of San Benito | San Benito, TX | 47 of 47 | 8.63 ppb | 24,250 |
General Authority of Franklin* | Franklin, PA | 2 of 2 | 8.50 ppb | 10,000 |
East Rio Hondo WSC* | Rio Hondo, TX | 44 of 48 | 8.41 ppb | 21,726 |
City of Hanford | Hanford, CA | 35 of 36 | 8.40 ppb | 55,880 |
City of Corpus Christi* | Corpus Christi, TX | 144 of 144 | 8.39 ppb | 325,733 |
Coalinga | Coalinga, CA | 48 of 48 | 8.33 ppb | 19,362 |
Zapata County Waterworks SWTP* | Zapata, TX | 48 of 48 | 8.30 ppb | 11,625 |
City of Alamo | Alamo, TX | 48 of 48 | 8.16 ppb | 18,363 |
City of Portland | Portland, TX | 48 of 48 | 8.12 ppb | 20,000 |
Sharyland Water Supply Corporation | Mission, TX | 47 of 48 | 7.85 ppb | 54,519 |
Harlingen Water Works System* | Harlingen, TX | 93 of 95 | 7.81 ppb | 85,900 |
Los Angeles County WW District 4 & 34-Lancaster | Alhambra, CA | 68 of 77 | 7.71 ppb | 180,131 |
Quartz Hill Water District* | Quartz Hill, CA | 47 of 48 | 7.58 ppb | 22,000 |
City of Alice* | Alice, TX | 48 of 48 | 7.49 ppb | 25,263 |
City of Mendota | Mendota, CA | 48 of 48 | 7.48 ppb | 11,104 |
City of Lampasas | Lampasas, TX | 24 of 24 | 7.48 ppb | 10,236 |
City of Junction City* | Junction City, KS | 48 of 48 | 7.42 ppb | 24,665 |
Kempner WSC* | Kempner, TX | 47 of 48 | 7.21 ppb | 17,031 |
* 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 Dibromoacetic acid, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.