Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Woodward Resource Center

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.

 

46

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

28

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
201825.5 ppb101015.0 ppb - 35.0 ppb
201922.9 ppb8817.0 ppb - 29.0 ppb
202021.8 ppb87ND - 34.0 ppb
20215.13 ppb83ND - 20.0 ppb
2022ND80ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-02-15OE62333735.0 ppb
2018-02-15OE62333635.0 ppb
2018-04-23OE64866326.0 ppb
2018-04-23OE64866223.0 ppb
2018-05-23OE66141215.0 ppb
2018-05-23OE66141325.0 ppb
2018-08-08OE69555520.0 ppb
2018-08-08OE69555625.0 ppb
2018-11-19OE74156433.0 ppb
2018-11-19OE74156518.0 ppb
2019-02-13OE77042924.0 ppb
2019-02-13OE77043024.0 ppb
2019-05-20OE81010319.0 ppb
2019-05-20OE81010417.0 ppb
2019-08-22OE85493720.0 ppb
2019-08-22OE85493823.0 ppb
2019-11-20OE89608727.0 ppb
2019-11-20OE89608829.0 ppb
2020-02-26OE93336326.0 ppb
2020-02-26OE93336425.0 ppb
2020-05-14OE1008268ND
2020-05-14OE100826919.0 ppb
2020-08-18OE118296118.0 ppb
2020-08-18OE118293319.0 ppb
2020-11-18OE143504234.0 ppb
2020-11-18OE143504333.0 ppb
2021-02-23OE159945520.0 ppb
2021-02-23OE159945614.0 ppb
2021-05-17OE16987667.00 ppb
2021-05-17OE1698767ND
2021-08-09OE1788578ND
2021-08-09OE1788579ND
2021-11-03OE1918693ND
2021-11-03OE1918694ND
2022-02-15OE2045226ND
2022-02-15OE2045227ND
2022-05-18OE2101783ND
2022-05-18OE2101784ND
2022-08-23OE2159431ND
2022-08-23OE2159432ND
2022-11-17OE2206983ND
2022-11-17OE2206984ND
2023-02-15OE2242410ND
2023-05-11OE2279124ND
2023-08-21OE2325089ND
2023-11-20OE2365472ND