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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Apple Ave. Ws #03

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the California State Water Resources Control Board, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 - March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility Details

  • Monterey County, California
  • Serves: 60
  • Data available: 2014-2019
  • Source: Groundwater

Contaminants Detected

6

EXCEED
EWG HEALTH
GUIDELINES

6 Total Contaminants

  • Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
  • Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
  • The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.

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Contaminants Detected

1,2,3-Trichloropropane

Potential Effect: cancer45x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.0318 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.0007 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

1,2,3-Trichloropropane

more about
this contaminant

1,2,3-Trichloropropane is a potent carcinogen that contaminates drinking water in agricultural regions where it was historically used as soil fumigant. Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

1,2,3-Trichloropropane was found at 45 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.0007 ppb or less

This Utility

0.0318 ppb

National Average

0.00041 ppb

State Average

0.000697 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2013-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.0007 ppb for 1,2,3-trichloropropane 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.

Pollution Sources

industry icon

Industry

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Bromoform

Potential Effect: cancer7.8x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY3.90 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.5 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Bromoform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Bromoform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

Bromoform was found at 7.8 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.5 ppb or less

This Utility

3.9 ppb

National Average

1.32 ppb

State Average

2.81 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.5 ppb for bromoform was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

Pollution Sources

water treatment icon

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Chromium (hexavalent)

Potential Effect: cancer55x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY1.10 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.02 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Chromium (hexavalent)

more about
this contaminant

Chromium (hexavalent) is a carcinogen that commonly contaminates American drinking water. Chromium (hexavalent) in drinking water may be due to industrial pollution or natural occurrences in mineral deposits and groundwater. Read more about chromium (hexavalent).

Chromium (hexavalent) was found at 55 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.02 ppb or less

This Utility

1.1 ppb

National Average

0.484 ppb

State Average

1.36 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2013-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.02 ppb for chromium (hexavalent) 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.

Pollution Sources

industry icon

Industry

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Dibromochloromethane

Potential Effect: cancer14x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY1.40 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.1 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Dibromochloromethane

more about
this contaminant

Dibromochloromethane, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Dibromochloromethane and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

Dibromochloromethane was found at 14 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.1 ppb or less

This Utility

1.4 ppb

National Average

3.29 ppb

State Average

4.73 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for dibromochloromethane was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

Pollution Sources

water treatment icon

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Nitrate

over legal limit
THIS UTILITY30.7 ppm
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.14 ppm
LEGAL LIMIT10 ppm
DETAILS
X

Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.

Nitrate was found at 219 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.14 ppm or less

This Utility

30.7 ppm

Legal Limit

10 ppm

National Average

0.935 ppm

State Average

1.9 ppm
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppm = parts per million

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.

Pollution Sources

agriculture icon

Agriculture

urban area icon

Runoff & Sprawl

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Uranium

Potential Effect: cancer26x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY11.00 pCi/L
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.43 pCi/L
LEGAL LIMIT20 pCi/L
DETAILS
X

Uranium is a known human carcinogen. The federal legal limit for uranium is set at 30 micrograms per liter (corresponding to parts per billion), but utilities can also report uranium in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), which is a measure of radioactivity in water. EWG translated all uranium results to pCi/L using a conversion factor developed by the EPA. With this conversion approach, the limit of 30 ppb corresponds to 20 pCi/L. Drinking water with this much uranium would cause more than 4.6 cancer cases in a population of 100,000. California set a public health goal for uranium of 0.43 pCi/L.

Uranium was found at 26 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.43 pCi/L or less

This Utility

11 pCi/L

Legal Limit

20 pCi/L

National Average

1.04 pCi/L

State Average

2.54 pCi/L
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2014-2019.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.43 pCi/L for uranium 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. Three most common uranium isotopes are U-234, U-235 and U-238. All isotopes of uranium are radioactive, and the total radioactivity depends on the ratio of isotopes. This health guideline protects against cancer.

Pollution Sources

industry icon

Industry

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Includes chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages exceeded the federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL); chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; chemicals detected under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3) program in 2013 to 2015 (and subsequent testing when available), for which annual utility averages exceeded a health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; radiological contaminants detected between 2014 and 2019.

Includes .


Other Contaminants Tested


Chemicals tested for but not detected from 2014 to 2019:

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane , 1,1,1-Trichloroethane , 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane , 1,1,2-Trichloroethane , 1,1-Dichloroethane , 1,1-Dichloroethylene , 1,1-Dichloropropene , 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene , 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene , 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene , 1,2-Dichloroethane , 1,2-Dichloropropane , 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene , 1,3-Dichloropropane , 1,3-Dichloropropene , 2,2-Dichloropropane , 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) , 2,4-D , 3-Hydroxycarbofuran , Acetone , Alachlor (Lasso) , Aldicarb , Aldicarb sulfone , Aldicarb sulfoxide , Atrazine , Bentazon (Basagran) , Benzene , Bromacil , Bromobenzene , Bromochloromethane , Bromodichloromethane , Bromomethane , Butachlor , Carbaryl , Carbofuran , Carbon tetrachloride , Chloroethane , Chloroform , Chloromethane , cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene , Dalapon , Dibromomethane , Dicamba , Dichlorodifluoromethane , Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) , Dimethoate , Dinoseb , Diquat , Ethyl tert-butyl ether , Ethylbenzene , Hexachlorobutadiene , Isopropyl ether , Isopropylbenzene , m-Dichlorobenzene , Methomyl , Methyl ethyl ketone , Methyl isobutyl ketone , Metolachlor , Metribuzin , Molinate , Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene) , MTBE , n-Butylbenzene , n-Propylbenzene , Naphthalene , Nitrite , o-Chlorotoluene , o-Dichlorobenzene , Oxamyl (Vydate) , p-Chlorotoluene , p-Dichlorobenzene , p-Isopropyltoluene , Pentachlorophenol , Perchlorate , Picloram , Propachlor , Radium, combined (-226 & -228) , sec-Butylbenzene , Simazine , Styrene , tert-Amyl methyl ether , tert-Butyl alcohol , tert-Butylbenzene , Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) , Thiobencarb , Toluene , trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene , Trichloroethylene , Trichlorofluoromethane , Trichlorotrifluoroethane , Vinyl chloride , Xylenes (total)

Apple Ave. Ws #03 compliance with legally mandated federal standards:

Information in this section on Apple Ave. Ws #03 comes from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online database (ECHO).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS UTILITY

Water Filters That Can Reduce Contaminant Levels

ContaminantActivated Carbonactivated carbonReverse Osmosisreverse osmosisIon Exchangeion exchange
CONTAMINANTS ABOVE
HEALTH GUIDELINES
1,2,3-Trichloropropane
Bromoform
Chromium (hexavalent)
Dibromochloromethane
Nitrate
Uranium, combined (pCi/L)

Take Action

Contact Your Local Official

One of the best ways to push for cleaner water is to hold accountable the elected officials who have a say in water quality – from city hall and the state legislature to Congress all the way to the Oval Office – by asking questions and demanding answers.

LEARN MORE

Filter Out Contaminants

Check out our recommendations for filters to protect your water against the detected contaminants.

EWG’S WATER FILTER GUIDE