Monochloroacetic acid
Lowell Regional Water Utility
Monochloroacetic 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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2017 | 0.694 ppb | 24 | 15 | ND - 3.10 ppb |
| 2018 | 1.56 ppb | 32 | 30 | ND - 6.30 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.410 ppb | 31 | 13 | ND - 1.40 ppb |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 53 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 53 ppb for monochloroacetic acid was proposed in 2020 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 system toxicity.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2017-05-09 | 0.930 ppb |
| 2017-05-09 | 0.640 ppb |
| 2017-05-09 | ND |
| 2017-05-09 | 0.820 ppb |
| 2017-05-09 | 0.540 ppb |
| 2017-05-09 | 0.590 ppb |
| 2017-05-09 | 0.940 ppb |
| 2017-05-09 | 1.000 ppb |
| 2017-08-08 | 3.10 ppb |
| 2017-08-08 | ND |
| 2017-08-08 | ND |
| 2017-08-08 | ND |
| 2017-08-08 | ND |
| 2017-08-08 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2017-08-08 | 0.600 ppb |
| 2017-08-08 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2017-11-07 | ND |
| 2017-11-07 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2017-11-07 | ND |
| 2017-11-07 | 0.900 ppb |
| 2017-11-07 | ND |
| 2017-11-07 | ND |
| 2017-11-07 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2017-11-07 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2018-02-12 | 1.70 ppb |
| 2018-02-12 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2018-02-12 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2018-02-12 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2018-02-12 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2018-02-12 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2018-02-12 | 1.70 ppb |
| 2018-02-12 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2018-05-07 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2018-05-07 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2018-05-07 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2018-05-07 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2018-05-07 | 0.860 ppb |
| 2018-05-07 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2018-05-07 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2018-05-07 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2018-08-14 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2018-08-14 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2018-08-14 | 0.760 ppb |
| 2018-08-14 | 6.30 ppb |
| 2018-08-14 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2018-08-14 | ND |
| 2018-08-14 | 1.000 ppb |
| 2018-08-14 | 2.50 ppb |
| 2018-11-14 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2018-11-14 | 0.990 ppb |
| 2018-11-14 | ND |
| 2018-11-14 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2018-11-14 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2018-11-14 | 0.850 ppb |
| 2018-11-14 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2018-11-14 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2019-02-12 | 0.860 ppb |
| 2019-02-12 | ND |
| 2019-02-12 | ND |
| 2019-02-12 | 0.760 ppb |
| 2019-02-12 | 0.760 ppb |
| 2019-02-12 | 0.990 ppb |
| 2019-02-12 | ND |
| 2019-02-12 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2019-05-14 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2019-05-14 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2019-05-14 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2019-05-14 | ND |
| 2019-05-14 | 0.720 ppb |
| 2019-05-14 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2019-05-14 | ND |
| 2019-05-14 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | ND |
| 2019-11-13 | ND |
| 2019-11-13 | ND |
| 2019-11-13 | 0.900 ppb |
| 2019-11-13 | ND |
| 2019-11-13 | ND |
| 2019-11-13 | 0.680 ppb |
| 2019-11-13 | 0.630 ppb |