Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. Read More.
Haloacetic acids are harmful during pregnancy and may increase the risk of cancer. Haloacetic acids are genotoxic, which means that they induce mutations and DNA damage. Multiple studies by the National Toxicology Program have demonstrated the cancer-causing properties of individual haloacetic acids in laboratory animals. The Department of Health and Human Services is currently considering listing di- or tri-haloacetic acids for possible inclusion in its comprehensive Report on Carcinogens.
2015:
49
states detected
21,487
utilities detected
273 million
people served
30
states over legal limit
295
utilities over legal limit
696,000
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Cancer
Harm to fetal growth and development
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 60 ppb
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppb = parts per billion.
States reporting haloacetic acids (HAA5) in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| California | 991 | 40,333,840 | |
| Texas | 2,289 | 23,958,961 | |
| New York | 1,054 | 19,725,490 | |
| Florida | 1,427 | 19,359,719 | |
| Illinois | 1,123 | 12,305,194 | |
| Pennsylvania | 945 | 10,081,397 | |
| Ohio | 943 | 10,022,821 | |
| Massachusetts | 272 | 8,716,479 | |
| New Jersey | 410 | 8,481,062 | |
| Georgia | 427 | 7,698,104 | |
| North Carolina | 696 | 7,513,838 | |
| Virginia | 454 | 6,566,742 | |
| Tennessee | 367 | 6,536,611 | |
| Colorado | 502 | 5,410,805 | |
| Arizona | 187 | 5,313,344 | |
| Alabama | 417 | 5,047,405 | |
| Michigan | 143 | 4,930,542 | |
| Washington | 446 | 4,661,359 | |
| Indiana | 507 | 4,529,295 | |
| Kentucky | 353 | 4,506,133 | |
| Maryland | 25 | 4,496,379 | |
| Louisiana | 676 | 4,365,353 | |
| Missouri | 490 | 4,322,437 | |
| Minnesota | 482 | 3,729,073 | |
| Wisconsin | 401 | 3,687,509 | |
| South Carolina | 292 | 3,484,804 | |
| Oregon | 263 | 3,461,888 | |
| Oklahoma | 763 | 3,348,868 | |
| Arkansas | 539 | 2,963,540 | |
| Kansas | 664 | 2,737,218 | |
| Connecticut | 172 | 2,630,531 | |
| Nevada | 55 | 2,476,067 | |
| Utah | 111 | 2,115,151 | |
| Iowa | 431 | 2,026,877 | |
| New Mexico | 252 | 1,676,056 | |
| West Virginia | 389 | 1,502,418 | |
| Mississippi | 223 | 1,020,775 | |
| Hawaii | 33 | 965,534 | |
| Rhode Island | 41 | 925,905 | |
| Delaware | 70 | 816,464 | |
| District Of Columbia | 4 | 664,572 | |
| North Dakota | 254 | 583,050 | |
| South Dakota | 229 | 566,888 | |
| Alaska | 122 | 565,994 | |
| Montana | 166 | 539,248 | |
| Idaho | 93 | 535,396 | |
| Maine | 68 | 491,708 | |
| Wyoming | 123 | 397,171 | |
| Vermont | 91 | 339,178 | |
| New Hampshire | 12 | 162,582 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of haloacetic acids (HAA5), 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potwin, City of* | Potwin, KS | 1 of 1 | 160.0 ppb | 436 |
| Flushing, City of | Flushing, MI | 1 of 1 | 160.0 ppb | 8,389 |
| Orient Water Company | Tonasket, WA | 3 of 3 | 143.6 ppb | 100 |
| Butler County Rural Water District 7* | Whitewater, KS | 1 of 1 | 140.0 ppb | 1,300 |
| Butler County Rural Water District 1* | El Dorado, KS | 1 of 1 | 140.0 ppb | 761 |
| Latham, City of | Latham, KS | 1 of 1 | 130.0 ppb | 138 |
| Hudson Gaars Mill Water System | Sikes, LA | 4 of 4 | 128.3 ppb | 660 |
| Vixen Water System West | West Monroe, LA | 12 of 12 | 125.0 ppb | 288 |
| Elk City, City of* | Elk City, KS | 4 of 4 | 124.3 ppb | 314 |
| Vixen Water System East | West Monroe, LA | 4 of 4 | 122.2 ppb | 486 |
| Truelight Redevelopment Group | Anguilla, MS | 8 of 8 | 121.5 ppb | 129 |
| Wilson County Rural Water District 12 | Neodesha, KS | 1 of 1 | 120.0 ppb | 123 |
| Tatitlek Water System | Tatitlek, AK | 1 of 1 | 120.0 ppb | 95 |
| Lakewood Water System | Lufkin, TX | 2 of 2 | 118.7 ppb | 52 |
| Lake Jackson Water Association | Greenville, MS | 6 of 6 | 118.7 ppb | 681 |
| Forest Water Supply Corporation | Wells, TX | 8 of 8 | 113.9 ppb | 561 |
| Buckland Water System | Buckland, AK | 4 of 4 | 112.0 ppb | 417 |
| Philmont Boy Scout Ranch - Headquarters | Cimarron, NM | 6 of 6 | 111.5 ppb | 2,150 |
| Labette County Rural Water District 1c | Oswego, KS | 1 of 1 | 110.0 ppb | 285 |
| City of Huxley | Shelbyville, TX | 6 of 6 | 106.4 ppb | 1,964 |
| Carthage, Town of* | Carthage, NC | 8 of 8 | 105.1 ppb | 2,767 |
| N.e. Oklahoma Correctional Center | Oklahoma City, OK | 3 of 3 | 102.0 ppb | 444 |
| Pappas & Company (coalinga) | Mendota, CA | 4 of 4 | 101.5 ppb | 25 |
| Barnsdall* | Barnsdall, OK | 5 of 5 | 100.6 ppb | 1,243 |
| Douglas County Rural Water District 6 | Lecompton, KS | 1 of 1 | 100.0 ppb | 360 |
| Thorne Bay, City of | Thorne Bay, AK | 1 of 1 | 100.0 ppb | 775 |
| Oketo, City of | Oketo, KS | 1 of 1 | 100.0 ppb | 65 |
| Terra Bella Irrigation District - Tbt | Terra Bella, CA | 6 of 6 | 99.2 ppb | 2,340 |
| Hardy County Psd Baker | Moorefield, WV | 4 of 4 | 98.4 ppb | 182 |
| Hickory Manor Mobile Home Park | Cincinnati, IN | 2 of 2 | 98.3 ppb | 250 |
* 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 Haloacetic acids (HAA5), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danville City Water Works* | Danville, KY | 16 of 16 | 83.9 ppb | 32,600 |
| Walnut Creek SUD* | Springtown, TX | 14 of 14 | 78.6 ppb | 18,528 |
| Larue County Water District #1 | Buffalo, KY | 8 of 8 | 76.8 ppb | 10,166 |
| Magoffin County Water District | Salyersville, KY | 8 of 8 | 75.8 ppb | 10,294 |
| Marshall County Water Corp* | Madill, OK | 16 of 16 | 69.8 ppb | 14,717 |
| Natchitoches Water System* | Natchitoches, LA | 56 of 56 | 66.1 ppb | 30,000 |
| City of Tyler* | Tyler, TX | 32 of 32 | 65.8 ppb | 109,242 |
| Green Taylor Water District* | Greensburg, KY | 16 of 16 | 63.5 ppb | 15,497 |
| Muskogee* | Muskogee, OK | 16 of 16 | 60.6 ppb | 38,310 |
| Russell Springs Water & Sewer* | Russell Springs, KY | 15 of 15 | 60.3 ppb | 11,567 |
| City of Baltimore* | Baltimore, MD | 2 of 2 | 59.0 ppb | 1,600,000 |
| Oneida Water and Sewer Comm.* | Oneida, TN | 16 of 16 | 58.9 ppb | 11,233 |
| Okmulgee* | Okmulgee, OK | 16 of 16 | 58.9 ppb | 13,495 |
| Warren County Water District* | Bowling Green, KY | 32 of 32 | 58.7 ppb | 74,096 |
| South Granville Water and Sewer Authority | Butner, NC | 17 of 17 | 58.1 ppb | 19,219 |
| South Central Water Assn | Raymond, MS | 16 of 16 | 57.9 ppb | 13,185 |
| Eubank Water System* | Eubank, KY | 16 of 16 | 57.5 ppb | 12,492 |
| Lawrenceburg Water & Sewer Department* | Lawrenceburg, KY | 16 of 16 | 57.0 ppb | 19,305 |
| Lake Utility Services Inc South* | Clermont, FL | 15 of 16 | 56.9 ppb | 10,266 |
| City of Bloomington Utilities* | Bloomington, IN | 32 of 32 | 56.8 ppb | 63,580 |
| North Mercer Water District | Salvisa, KY | 16 of 16 | 56.6 ppb | 12,884 |
| Paintsville Municipal Water Works* | Paintsville, KY | 15 of 15 | 56.3 ppb | 24,354 |
| Lamar County Water Supply District* | Paris, TX | 16 of 16 | 56.2 ppb | 22,269 |
| Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission* | Shelbyville, KY | 16 of 16 | 56.1 ppb | 23,760 |
| Stucker Fork Water Utility* | Scottsburg, IN | 16 of 16 | 55.9 ppb | 18,873 |
| McAlester PWA* | Mcalester, OK | 16 of 16 | 55.5 ppb | 17,783 |
| GCWSD Waccamaw Neck | Pawleys Island, SC | 16 of 16 | 55.1 ppb | 34,190 |
| Laguardo Utility District | Lebanon, TN | 10 of 10 | 55.0 ppb | 10,339 |
| Hazard Water Department* | Hazard, KY | 18 of 18 | 54.6 ppb | 26,730 |
| Elon | Elon, NC | 14 of 14 | 53.9 ppb | 10,056 |
* 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 Haloacetic acids (HAA5), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.