Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission

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.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

 

96

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

60

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.750 ppb167ND - 2.00 ppb
20190.856 ppb167ND - 2.80 ppb
20201.06 ppb163ND - 10.00 ppb
20213.27 ppb1611ND - 8.80 ppb
20227.35 ppb16161.30 ppb - 13.3 ppb
20239.26 ppb16163.60 ppb - 16.3 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for the group of five haloacetic acids, or HAA5, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 60 ppb

The legal limit for the group of five haloacetic acids (HAA5), established in 1998, was based on the need for residual disinfectant levels in water served to customers and the cost of treatment. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer and harm to the developing fetus due to exposure to haloacetic acids.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-03-20116657GEND
2018-03-20116659GEND
2018-03-20116661GEND
2018-03-20116655GE2.00 ppb
2018-06-07118171GEND
2018-06-07118173GE2.00 ppb
2018-06-07118175GE2.00 ppb
2018-06-07118177GEND
2018-09-04119933ND
2018-09-041199352.00 ppb
2018-09-04119937ND
2018-09-04119939ND
2018-12-051217141.000 ppb
2018-12-051217181.000 ppb
2018-12-051217162.00 ppb
2018-12-05121712ND
2019-03-06123271ND
2019-03-06123273ND
2019-03-061232752.00 ppb
2019-03-06123277ND
2019-06-181253872.40 ppb
2019-06-181253892.70 ppb
2019-06-181253911.60 ppb
2019-06-181253931.10 ppb
2019-09-19127672ND
2019-09-19127676ND
2019-09-19127674ND
2019-09-19127670ND
2019-12-061292822.80 ppb
2019-12-06129284ND
2019-12-06129286ND
2019-12-061292801.10 ppb
2020-03-04130829ND
2020-03-04130831ND
2020-03-04130833ND
2020-03-04130835ND
2020-06-04132599ND
2020-06-04132601ND
2020-06-04132597ND
2020-06-04132595ND
2020-09-11134732ND
2020-09-111347342.00 ppb
2020-09-111347365.00 ppb
2020-09-1113473810.00 ppb
2020-12-07136628ND
2020-12-07136630ND
2020-12-07136632ND
2020-12-07136634ND
2021-03-08138323ND
2021-03-08138317ND
2021-03-081383191.20 ppb
2021-03-081383211.80 ppb
2021-06-10140342ND
2021-06-101403441.10 ppb
2021-06-10140346ND
2021-06-10140340ND
2021-09-131422905.30 ppb
2021-09-131422925.80 ppb
2021-09-131422946.30 ppb
2021-09-131422964.70 ppb
2021-12-141442248.80 ppb
2021-12-141442227.10 ppb
2021-12-141442204.30 ppb
2021-12-141442185.90 ppb
2022-03-021458295.70 ppb
2022-03-021458319.70 ppb
2022-03-021458331.30 ppb
2022-03-021458355.00 ppb
2022-06-061484425.50 ppb
2022-06-0614844411.0 ppb
2022-06-061484466.80 ppb
2022-06-061484487.40 ppb
2022-09-0915109913.3 ppb
2022-09-091510959.20 ppb
2022-09-091510933.00 ppb
2022-09-091510976.40 ppb
2022-12-081537156.70 ppb
2022-12-0815371710.00 ppb
2022-12-081537195.90 ppb
2022-12-0815372110.7 ppb
2023-03-071562464.40 ppb
2023-03-071562483.60 ppb
2023-03-071562505.10 ppb
2023-03-071562526.80 ppb
2023-06-051590009.00 ppb
2023-06-051590048.90 ppb
2023-06-0515900210.00 ppb
2023-06-0515899810.2 ppb
2023-09-121629548.50 ppb
2023-09-1216295612.6 ppb
2023-09-121629587.20 ppb
2023-09-121629608.60 ppb
2023-12-1216632911.6 ppb
2023-12-1216633113.1 ppb
2023-12-1216633312.2 ppb
2023-12-1216633516.3 ppb