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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Town of Forest City

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

96

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

96

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
201422.6 ppb16168.80 ppb - 37.0 ppb
201521.7 ppb161613.8 ppb - 34.6 ppb
201620.7 ppb161613.6 ppb - 35.0 ppb
201718.0 ppb16165.60 ppb - 28.0 ppb
201823.9 ppb161613.3 ppb - 40.0 ppb
201920.0 ppb16168.30 ppb - 36.0 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 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
2014-03-20299562117.4 ppb
2014-03-20299562212.7 ppb
2014-03-20299562313.3 ppb
2014-03-20299562413.2 ppb
2014-06-23305094727.2 ppb
2014-06-23305094929.0 ppb
2014-06-23305095133.4 ppb
2014-06-23305094531.4 ppb
2014-09-17310624734.0 ppb
2014-09-17310624930.0 ppb
2014-09-17310625130.0 ppb
2014-09-17310625337.0 ppb
2014-12-1631568578.80 ppb
2014-12-16315686112.2 ppb
2014-12-16315685910.6 ppb
2014-12-16315685520.7 ppb
2015-03-1814.1 ppb
2015-03-1813.8 ppb
2015-03-1815.4 ppb
2015-03-1814.2 ppb
2015-06-1633.0 ppb
2015-06-1621.0 ppb
2015-06-1624.0 ppb
2015-06-1628.0 ppb
2015-09-1534.6 ppb
2015-09-1526.0 ppb
2015-09-1523.0 ppb
2015-09-1521.0 ppb
2015-12-1516.9 ppb
2015-12-1517.5 ppb
2015-12-1519.1 ppb
2015-12-1526.0 ppb
2016-03-15341509314.6 ppb
2016-03-15341509515.1 ppb
2016-03-15341509113.7 ppb
2016-03-15341508917.2 ppb
2016-06-21347578434.0 ppb
2016-06-21347578220.2 ppb
2016-06-21347578023.0 ppb
2016-06-21347577827.0 ppb
2016-09-19354882323.0 ppb
2016-09-19354882517.8 ppb
2016-09-19354882719.5 ppb
2016-09-19354882923.2 ppb
2016-12-20360833735.0 ppb
2016-12-20360833913.6 ppb
2016-12-20360834113.9 ppb
2016-12-20360834320.8 ppb
2017-03-23366049617.5 ppb
2017-03-23366049020.7 ppb
2017-03-23366049216.2 ppb
2017-03-23366049416.8 ppb
2017-06-20371762625.1 ppb
2017-06-20371762821.1 ppb
2017-06-20371763023.0 ppb
2017-06-20371763222.0 ppb
2017-09-19378224622.9 ppb
2017-09-19378224417.5 ppb
2017-09-19378224222.3 ppb
2017-09-19378224028.0 ppb
2017-12-21384296714.8 ppb
2017-12-2138429697.10 ppb
2017-12-2138429715.60 ppb
2017-12-2138429738.00 ppb
2018-03-223895989 13.3 ppb
2018-03-223895987 14.1 ppb
2018-03-223895985 13.3 ppb
2018-03-223895983 16.9 ppb
2018-06-193966678 35.0 ppb
2018-06-193966672 40.0 ppb
2018-06-193966674 29.0 ppb
2018-06-193966676 26.0 ppb
2018-09-194061710 31.0 ppb
2018-09-194061708 30.0 ppb
2018-09-194061706 34.0 ppb
2018-09-194061704 36.0 ppb
2018-12-184154654 19.8 ppb
2018-12-184154656 16.0 ppb
2018-12-184154658 13.5 ppb
2018-12-184154660 14.9 ppb
2019-03-264238736 11.9 ppb
2019-03-264238738 8.30 ppb
2019-03-264238740 8.60 ppb
2019-03-264238742 9.60 ppb
2019-06-264337454 29.0 ppb
2019-06-264337460 22.0 ppb
2019-06-264337458 20.0 ppb
2019-06-264337456 17.2 ppb
2019-09-174425181 36.0 ppb
2019-09-174425185 29.0 ppb
2019-09-174425183 29.0 ppb
2019-09-174425179 26.0 ppb
2019-12-114511852 17.0 ppb
2019-12-114511850 11.2 ppb
2019-12-114511848 12.6 ppb
2019-12-114511846 33.0 ppb