Bromate

Billerica Water Works

Bromate is a carcinogenic disinfection byproduct formed when source waters containing bromide are treated with ozonation or sodium hypochlorite. Studies of laboratory animals show that bromate damages DNA and causes cancer in multiple organs. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

198

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

183

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	1.49 ppb	30	15	ND - 5.40 ppb
2015	3.03 ppb	36	36	1.30 ppb - 6.30 ppb
2016	3.57 ppb	36	36	1.80 ppb - 5.70 ppb
2017	6.43 ppb	36	36	2.10 ppb - 29.0 ppb
2018	3.23 ppb	36	36	1.10 ppb - 7.30 ppb
2019	3.33 ppb	24	24	1.70 ppb - 6.70 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for bromate 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) 10 ppb

The legal limit for bromate, established in 1998, 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 bromate exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Result
2014-01-06	ND
2014-01-06	ND
2014-01-06	ND
2014-02-06	ND
2014-02-06	ND
2014-02-06	ND
2014-03-05	ND
2014-03-05	ND
2014-03-05	ND
2014-04-02	ND
2014-04-02	ND
2014-04-02	ND
2014-05-05	ND
2014-05-05	ND
2014-05-05	ND
2014-07-21	2.40 ppb
2014-07-21	2.40 ppb
2014-07-21	2.40 ppb
2014-08-04	2.20 ppb
2014-08-04	2.20 ppb
2014-08-04	2.20 ppb
2014-09-03	5.40 ppb
2014-09-03	5.40 ppb
2014-09-03	5.40 ppb
2014-11-20	2.40 ppb
2014-11-20	2.40 ppb
2014-11-20	2.40 ppb
2014-12-03	2.50 ppb
2014-12-03	2.50 ppb
2014-12-03	2.50 ppb
2015-01-03	2.30 ppb
2015-01-03	2.30 ppb
2015-01-03	2.30 ppb
2015-02-04	3.10 ppb
2015-02-04	3.10 ppb
2015-02-04	3.10 ppb
2015-03-05	3.00 ppb
2015-03-05	3.00 ppb
2015-03-05	3.00 ppb
2015-04-02	1.30 ppb
2015-04-02	1.30 ppb
2015-04-02	1.30 ppb
2015-05-01	1.30 ppb
2015-05-01	1.30 ppb
2015-05-01	1.30 ppb
2015-06-03	1.40 ppb
2015-06-03	1.40 ppb
2015-06-03	1.40 ppb
2015-07-02	2.00 ppb
2015-07-02	2.00 ppb
2015-07-02	2.00 ppb
2015-08-03	2.80 ppb
2015-08-03	2.80 ppb
2015-08-03	2.80 ppb
2015-09-03	6.30 ppb
2015-09-03	6.30 ppb
2015-09-03	6.30 ppb
2015-10-01	4.70 ppb
2015-10-01	4.70 ppb
2015-10-01	4.70 ppb
2015-11-03	4.30 ppb
2015-11-03	4.30 ppb
2015-11-03	4.30 ppb
2015-12-02	3.90 ppb
2015-12-02	3.90 ppb
2015-12-02	3.90 ppb
2016-01-12	3.40 ppb
2016-01-12	3.40 ppb
2016-01-12	3.40 ppb
2016-02-04	3.60 ppb
2016-02-04	3.60 ppb
2016-02-04	3.60 ppb
2016-03-03	3.90 ppb
2016-03-03	3.90 ppb
2016-03-03	3.90 ppb
2016-04-07	2.40 ppb
2016-04-07	2.40 ppb
2016-04-07	2.40 ppb
2016-05-04	2.60 ppb
2016-05-04	2.60 ppb
2016-05-04	2.60 ppb
2016-06-02	1.80 ppb
2016-06-02	1.80 ppb
2016-06-02	1.80 ppb
2016-07-06	2.80 ppb
2016-07-06	2.80 ppb
2016-07-06	2.80 ppb
2016-08-03	4.00 ppb
2016-08-03	4.00 ppb
2016-08-03	4.00 ppb
2016-09-06	5.60 ppb
2016-09-06	5.60 ppb
2016-09-06	5.60 ppb
2016-10-03	4.80 ppb
2016-10-03	4.80 ppb
2016-10-03	4.80 ppb
2016-11-03	2.20 ppb
2016-11-03	2.20 ppb
2016-11-03	2.20 ppb
2016-12-03	5.70 ppb
2016-12-03	5.70 ppb
2016-12-03	5.70 ppb
2017-01-03	4.60 ppb
2017-01-03	4.60 ppb
2017-01-03	4.60 ppb
2017-02-02	3.00 ppb
2017-02-02	3.00 ppb
2017-02-02	3.00 ppb
2017-03-06	29.0 ppb
2017-03-06	29.0 ppb
2017-03-06	29.0 ppb
2017-04-05	2.30 ppb
2017-04-05	2.30 ppb
2017-04-05	2.30 ppb
2017-05-04	2.70 ppb
2017-05-04	2.70 ppb
2017-05-04	2.70 ppb
2017-06-01	2.10 ppb
2017-06-01	2.10 ppb
2017-06-01	2.10 ppb
2017-07-02	3.20 ppb
2017-07-02	3.20 ppb
2017-07-02	3.20 ppb
2017-08-02	5.70 ppb
2017-08-02	5.70 ppb
2017-08-02	5.70 ppb
2017-09-01	4.60 ppb
2017-09-01	4.60 ppb
2017-09-01	4.60 ppb
2017-10-01	6.80 ppb
2017-10-01	6.80 ppb
2017-10-01	6.80 ppb
2017-11-02	3.20 ppb
2017-11-02	3.20 ppb
2017-11-02	3.20 ppb
2017-12-03	10.00 ppb
2017-12-03	10.00 ppb
2017-12-03	10.00 ppb
2018-01-02	5.70 ppb
2018-01-02	5.70 ppb
2018-01-02	5.70 ppb
2018-02-01	2.90 ppb
2018-02-01	2.90 ppb
2018-02-01	2.90 ppb
2018-03-02	2.70 ppb
2018-03-02	2.70 ppb
2018-03-02	2.70 ppb
2018-04-02	2.90 ppb
2018-04-02	2.90 ppb
2018-04-02	2.90 ppb
2018-05-03	1.60 ppb
2018-05-03	1.60 ppb
2018-05-03	1.60 ppb
2018-06-04	2.20 ppb
2018-06-04	2.20 ppb
2018-06-04	2.20 ppb
2018-07-25	4.10 ppb
2018-07-25	4.10 ppb
2018-07-25	4.10 ppb
2018-08-02	4.50 ppb
2018-08-02	4.50 ppb
2018-08-02	4.50 ppb
2018-09-03	7.30 ppb
2018-09-03	7.30 ppb
2018-09-03	7.30 ppb
2018-10-01	2.30 ppb
2018-10-01	2.30 ppb
2018-10-01	2.30 ppb
2018-11-01	1.40 ppb
2018-11-01	1.40 ppb
2018-11-01	1.40 ppb
2018-12-03	1.10 ppb
2018-12-03	1.10 ppb
2018-12-03	1.10 ppb
2019-01-03	2.10 ppb
2019-01-03	2.10 ppb
2019-01-03	2.10 ppb
2019-02-06	1.90 ppb
2019-02-06	1.90 ppb
2019-02-06	1.90 ppb
2019-03-04	2.70 ppb
2019-03-04	2.70 ppb
2019-03-04	2.70 ppb
2019-07-01	1.70 ppb
2019-07-01	1.70 ppb
2019-07-01	1.70 ppb
2019-08-01	3.90 ppb
2019-08-01	3.90 ppb
2019-08-01	3.90 ppb
2019-09-13	5.00 ppb
2019-09-13	5.00 ppb
2019-09-13	5.00 ppb
2019-10-03	6.70 ppb
2019-10-03	6.70 ppb
2019-10-03	6.70 ppb
2019-11-04	2.60 ppb
2019-11-04	2.60 ppb
2019-11-04	2.60 ppb