1,4-Dioxane
Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - Norwalk
1,4-Dioxane is a solvent classified by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen. It contaminates groundwater in many states due to industrial wastewater discharges, plastic manufacturing runoff and landfill runoff. Read More.
Animal studies show that 1,4-dioxane can target the liver, kidneys and respiratory system, and that prenatal exposure can harm the developing fetus. The State of California has set a Public Heatlh Goal of no more than 1 part per billion of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water. The state of Massachusetts sets a legal limit of 0.3 ppb, and New Hampshire's limit is 3 parts per billion. There is no national drinking water standard for this contaminant.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2.03 ppb | 10 | 7 | ND - 4.30 ppb |
| 2014 | 2.53 ppb | 10 | 9 | ND - 4.10 ppb |
| 2015 | 2.93 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.40 ppb - 3.70 ppb |
| 2016 | 2.78 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.40 ppb - 3.40 ppb |
| 2017 | 2.54 ppb | 8 | 8 | 1.20 ppb - 3.20 ppb |
| 2018 | 2.82 ppb | 5 | 5 | 1.30 ppb - 3.90 ppb |
| 2019 | 2.48 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.20 ppb - 3.20 ppb |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.35 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.35 ppb for 1,4-dioxane was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-05-21 | 201305210285AM | 1.80 ppb |
| 2013-05-21 | 201305210340AM | ND |
| 2013-05-21 | 201305210279AM | 3.10 ppb |
| 2013-05-21 | 201305210287AM | 3.50 ppb |
| 2013-05-21 | 201305210281AM | 4.30 ppb |
| 2013-08-28 | 201308280512AM | ND |
| 2013-11-21 | 201311220253AM | ND |
| 2013-11-21 | 201311220250AM | 3.00 ppb |
| 2013-11-21 | 201311220242AM | 2.40 ppb |
| 2013-11-21 | 201311220265AM | 2.20 ppb |
| 2014-02-13 | 201402130468AM | 1.40 ppb |
| 2014-02-13 | 201402130464AM | ND |
| 2014-04-17 | 9588-025-0730 | 3.90 ppb |
| 2014-04-17 | 9588-031-1300 | 3.00 ppb |
| 2014-04-17 | 9588-026-1325 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2014-04-17 | 9588-016-0715 | 3.30 ppb |
| 2014-10-16 | 9588-016-0815 | 3.50 ppb |
| 2014-10-16 | 9588-031-0900 | 3.20 ppb |
| 2014-10-16 | 9588-025-0930 | 4.10 ppb |
| 2014-11-13 | 9588-026-1310 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2015-04-09 | 9588-026-1325 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2015-04-16 | 9588-025-0945 | 3.70 ppb |
| 2015-05-07 | 9588-016-1235 | 3.20 ppb |
| 2015-05-21 | 9588-031-0915 | 3.40 ppb |
| 2016-05-12 | 9588-031-1220 | 3.10 ppb |
| 2016-05-12 | 9588-025-1125 | 3.40 ppb |
| 2016-05-19 | 9588-026-1435 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2016-12-08 | 9588-016-1130 | 3.20 ppb |
| 2017-04-06 | 9588-025-1000 | 3.20 ppb |
| 2017-04-17 | 9588-016-1300 | 2.60 ppb |
| 2017-04-28 | 9588-026-1145 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2017-05-08 | 9588-031-1130 | 2.90 ppb |
| 2017-10-05 | 9588-025-0900 | 3.20 ppb |
| 2017-10-20 | 9588-016-1115 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2017-10-20 | 9588-026-1045 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2017-10-23 | 9588-031-0915 | 3.20 ppb |
| 2018-01-22 | 9588-025-1300 | 3.90 ppb |
| 2018-04-05 | 9588-025-0830 | 3.10 ppb |
| 2018-04-09 | 9588-026-0730 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2018-04-09 | 9588-016-0800 | 2.50 ppb |
| 2018-05-11 | 9588-031-1110 | 3.30 ppb |
| 2019-04-10 | 9588-016-0930 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2019-04-10 | 9588-025-0000 | 3.20 ppb |
| 2019-04-10 | 9588-026-0000 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2019-05-15 | 9588-031-1020 | 3.10 ppb |