Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Watertown Water & Sewer Authority

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

7

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

96

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
201850.5 ppb161635.6 ppb - 67.1 ppb
201946.5 ppb161632.1 ppb - 57.9 ppb
202049.3 ppb161634.4 ppb - 58.4 ppb
202154.1 ppb161637.1 ppb - 69.0 ppb
202244.6 ppb161627.2 ppb - 51.8 ppb
202345.8 ppb161631.2 ppb - 56.7 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
2018-03-07DBP 20048953446.5 ppb
2018-03-07DBP 20048953552.9 ppb
2018-03-07DBP 20048953654.2 ppb
2018-03-07DBP 20048953347.1 ppb
2018-06-06DBP 20049632858.2 ppb
2018-06-06DBP 20049632967.1 ppb
2018-06-06DBP 20049633066.5 ppb
2018-06-06DBP 20049633163.7 ppb
2018-09-05DBP 20050406136.2 ppb
2018-09-05DBP 20050406253.1 ppb
2018-09-05DBP 20050406339.2 ppb
2018-09-05DBP 20050406450.6 ppb
2018-12-05DBP 20051498036.1 ppb
2018-12-05DBP 20051498251.1 ppb
2018-12-05DBP 20051498149.3 ppb
2018-12-05DBP 20051497835.6 ppb
2019-03-06DBP 20052370849.4 ppb
2019-03-06DBP 20052370942.8 ppb
2019-03-06DBP 20052371045.6 ppb
2019-03-06DBP 20052371133.3 ppb
2019-06-05DBP 20053506856.8 ppb
2019-06-05DBP 20053506957.4 ppb
2019-06-05DBP 20053507046.4 ppb
2019-06-05DBP 20053507156.2 ppb
2019-09-05DBP 20054763757.9 ppb
2019-09-05DBP 20054764051.1 ppb
2019-09-05DBP 20054763956.3 ppb
2019-09-05DBP 20054763637.9 ppb
2019-12-05DBP 20055914732.1 ppb
2019-12-05DBP 20055914849.3 ppb
2019-12-05DBP 20055914937.2 ppb
2019-12-05DBP 20055914634.8 ppb
2020-03-04DBP 20056819749.4 ppb
2020-03-04DBP 20056819834.4 ppb
2020-03-04DBP 20056819945.7 ppb
2020-03-04DBP 20056820035.1 ppb
2020-06-03DBP 20057785556.1 ppb
2020-06-03DBP 20057785656.4 ppb
2020-06-03DBP 20057785449.5 ppb
2020-06-03DBP 20057785353.4 ppb
2020-09-02DBP 20058867935.2 ppb
2020-09-02DBP 20058868052.5 ppb
2020-09-02DBP 20058868147.0 ppb
2020-09-02DBP 20058868254.9 ppb
2020-12-02DBP 20059979156.9 ppb
2020-12-02DBP 20059979246.9 ppb
2020-12-02DBP 20059979358.4 ppb
2020-12-02DBP 20059979457.2 ppb
2021-03-10DBP 20060934955.0 ppb
2021-03-10DBP 20060934654.0 ppb
2021-03-10DBP 20060934737.1 ppb
2021-03-10DBP 20060934850.4 ppb
2021-06-02DBP 20061913745.6 ppb
2021-06-02DBP 20061913953.6 ppb
2021-06-02DBP 20061914059.3 ppb
2021-06-02DBP 20061913665.5 ppb
2021-09-08300053894 30005389537.8 ppb
2021-09-08300053900 30005390143.1 ppb
2021-09-08300053903 30005390449.8 ppb
2021-09-22300065698 30006569954.1 ppb
2021-12-01D300110687 30011068869.0 ppb
2021-12-01D300110684 30011068567.6 ppb
2021-12-01D300110681 30011068259.7 ppb
2021-12-01D300110678 30011067964.6 ppb
2022-03-02D300151783 30015178450.0 ppb
2022-03-02D300151786 30015178748.7 ppb
2022-03-02D300151789 30015179045.2 ppb
2022-03-02D300151792 30015179349.2 ppb
2022-06-01D300192098 30019209951.7 ppb
2022-06-01D300192101 30019210243.4 ppb
2022-06-01D300192104 30019210550.5 ppb
2022-06-01D300192107 30019210851.8 ppb
2022-09-14D300244033 30024403439.5 ppb
2022-09-14D300244027 30024402828.8 ppb
2022-09-14D300244024 30024402527.2 ppb
2022-09-14D300244030 30024403137.0 ppb
2022-12-07D300282718 30028271948.1 ppb
2022-12-07D300282721 30028272243.4 ppb
2022-12-07D300282724 30028272548.5 ppb
2022-12-07D300282727 30028272849.8 ppb
2023-03-16D300321892 30032189342.1 ppb
2023-03-16D300321895 30032189631.2 ppb
2023-03-16D300321898 30032189947.3 ppb
2023-03-16D300321901 30032190233.9 ppb
2023-06-14D300365450 30036545143.8 ppb
2023-06-14D300365456 30036545752.1 ppb
2023-06-14D300365453 30036545453.1 ppb
2023-06-14D300365447 30036544856.7 ppb
2023-09-06D300410877 30041087843.1 ppb
2023-09-06D300410880 30041088151.9 ppb
2023-09-06D300410883 30041088449.2 ppb
2023-09-06D300410886 30041088742.7 ppb
2023-12-07D300456855 30045685641.6 ppb
2023-12-07D300456858 30045685939.1 ppb
2023-12-07D300456861 30045686252.0 ppb
2023-12-07D300456864 30045686552.5 ppb