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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Berlin Water Department

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)

75

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20143.27 ppb1612ND - 16.0 ppb
20153.31 ppb16160.530 ppb - 14.6 ppb
20162.43 ppb1610ND - 9.80 ppb
20174.23 ppb1612ND - 10.6 ppb
20184.09 ppb1611ND - 13.5 ppb
20194.56 ppb1614ND - 12.0 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
2014-03-11L4976583-13.88 ppb
2014-03-11L4976583-216.0 ppb
2014-03-11L4976583-36.80 ppb
2014-03-11L4976583-4ND
2014-06-09L5106402-35.10 ppb
2014-06-09L5106402-23.50 ppb
2014-06-09L5106402-4ND
2014-06-09L5106402-11.62 ppb
2014-09-08L5239835-41.57 ppb
2014-09-08L5239835-3ND
2014-09-08L5239835-1ND
2014-09-08L5239835-21.25 ppb
2014-12-09L5358773-31.53 ppb
2014-12-09L5358773-22.31 ppb
2014-12-09L5358773-10.380 ppb
2014-12-09L5358773-48.33 ppb
2015-03-10L5492784-41.17 ppb
2015-03-10L5492784-214.6 ppb
2015-03-10L5492784-13.00 ppb
2015-03-10L5492784-39.00 ppb
2015-06-10L5644202-32.31 ppb
2015-06-10L5644202-10.670 ppb
2015-06-10L5644202-43.84 ppb
2015-06-10L5644202-21.88 ppb
2015-09-09L5815489-32.09 ppb
2015-09-09L5815489-10.690 ppb
2015-09-09L5815489-42.47 ppb
2015-09-09L5815489-22.10 ppb
2015-12-10L5956662-10.530 ppb
2015-12-10L5956662-22.36 ppb
2015-12-10L5956662-43.63 ppb
2015-12-10L5956662-32.65 ppb
2016-03-0934139681.50 ppb
2016-03-0934139719.40 ppb
2016-03-0934139699.80 ppb
2016-03-0934139706.40 ppb
2016-06-083468633ND
2016-06-083468631ND
2016-06-0834686301.40 ppb
2016-06-0834686322.10 ppb
2016-09-063540046ND
2016-09-063540044ND
2016-09-063540043ND
2016-09-0635400452.20 ppb
2016-12-0736013462.00 ppb
2016-12-073601347ND
2016-12-0736013442.90 ppb
2016-12-0736013451.20 ppb
2017-03-0836513227.00 ppb
2017-03-083651324ND
2017-03-0836513216.40 ppb
2017-03-08365132310.6 ppb
2017-06-0837107605.90 ppb
2017-06-0837107612.40 ppb
2017-06-083710763ND
2017-06-0837107625.60 ppb
2017-09-1137762551.20 ppb
2017-09-113776257ND
2017-09-1137762563.80 ppb
2017-09-1137762543.40 ppb
2017-12-0838385638.40 ppb
2017-12-0838385618.00 ppb
2017-12-0838385625.00 ppb
2017-12-083838564ND
2018-03-0938889403.20 ppb
2018-03-093888943ND
2018-03-09388894213.5 ppb
2018-03-0938889415.40 ppb
2018-06-1339616561.10 ppb
2018-06-133961659ND
2018-06-133961657ND
2018-06-1339616585.10 ppb
2018-09-1040516111.50 ppb
2018-09-1040516122.60 ppb
2018-09-1040516105.00 ppb
2018-09-104051613ND
2018-12-07414427410.00 ppb
2018-12-07414427511.4 ppb
2018-12-0741442736.70 ppb
2018-12-074144276ND
2019-03-0842244791.50 ppb
2019-03-0842244765.70 ppb
2019-03-08422447812.0 ppb
2019-03-0842244777.10 ppb
2019-06-0743222655.00 ppb
2019-06-0743222663.20 ppb
2019-06-074322268ND
2019-06-0743222679.90 ppb
2019-09-1944322263.10 ppb
2019-09-194432229ND
2019-09-1944322284.60 ppb
2019-09-1944322271.30 ppb
2019-12-0345049141.000 ppb
2019-12-0345049139.00 ppb
2019-12-0345049126.00 ppb
2019-12-0345049113.50 ppb