Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut - Valley System
NOTE: Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut - Valley System purchases water from Regional Water Authority which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by Regional Water Authority.
PCBs are synthetic chemicals banned in the U.S. since the 1970s because of their toxicity. PCBs contaminate water by leaching from landfills and hazardous waste clean-up sites. PCBs increase the risk of cancer. Read More.
Up until the late 1970s, PCBs were used widely as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment. Currently, PCBs are widely detected in the general population. They build up and are stored in fatty tissues and fluids such as breast milk, and can be passed on to fetuses and infants during pregnancy and breast-feeding. In human epidemiological studies, PCBs have been associated with an elevated risk of breast and prostate cancers. Infants and children with higher PCB exposures during development score lower on measures of neurological function, ranging from decreased IQ scores to� reduced hearing sensitivity. PCBs also affect hormones and damage the immune system.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | ND | 6 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2021 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2022 | ND | 6 | 0 | ND |
| 2023 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
ppb = parts per billion
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
EWG Health Guideline: 0.09 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.09 ppb for PCBs was defined 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 cancer.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 0.5 ppb
The legal limit for PCBs, established in 1991, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to PCB exposure.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
NOTE: Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut - Valley System purchases water from Regional Water Authority which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by Regional Water Authority.
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-08 | SOC 200531300 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533720 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533719 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533803 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533804 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533660 | ND |
| 2019-05-28 | SOC 200533659 | ND |
| 2019-05-29 | SOC 200533881 | ND |
| 2019-05-29 | SOC 200533880 | ND |
| 2019-05-29 | SOC 200533867 | ND |
| 2019-05-29 | SOC 200533868 | ND |
| 2019-08-26 | SOC 200546197 | ND |
| 2019-08-26 | SOC 200546198 | ND |
| 2019-08-26 | SOC 200546200 | ND |
| 2019-08-27 | SOC 200546267 | ND |
| 2019-08-27 | SOC 200546303 | ND |
| 2019-08-27 | SOC 200546302 | ND |
| 2019-08-27 | SOC 200546268 | ND |
| 2019-08-28 | SOC 200546738 | ND |
| 2019-08-28 | SOC 200546737 | ND |
| 2019-08-28 | SOC 200546736 | ND |
| 2019-08-28 | SOC 200546553 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210822 300210824 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210156 300210158 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210164 300210166 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210651 300210653 | ND |
| 2022-07-11 | S300210659 300210661 | ND |
| 2022-07-12 | S300211086 300211088 | ND |
| 2022-07-12 | S300211076 300211078 | ND |
| 2022-07-12 | S300211068 300211070 | ND |
| 2022-07-13 | S300212413 300212415 | ND |
| 2022-07-13 | S300212421 300212423 | ND |
| 2022-07-14 | S300212957 300212959 | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | S300258850 300258852 | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | 300258850 300258852B | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | 300258858 300258860B | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | S300258858 300258860 | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | S300259358 300259360 | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | S300258921 300258923 | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | 300258921 300258923B | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | 300259358 300259360B | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | S300259350 300259352 | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | 300259350 300259352B | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | 300258913 300258915B | ND |
| 2022-10-18 | S300258913 300258915 | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | S300259930 300259934 | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | 300259930 300259934B | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | 300259940 300259942B | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | S300259940 300259942 | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | S300260499 300260501 | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | 300260499 300260501B | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | 300260507 300260509B | ND |
| 2022-10-19 | S300260507 300260509 | ND |
| 2022-12-06 | S300281400 300281402 | ND |