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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Smiths Crossing Water Association

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Mississippi State Department of Health, 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

  • Simpson County, Mississippi
  • Serves: 4,274
  • Data available: 2014-2019
  • Source: Groundwater

Contaminants Detected

4

EXCEED
EWG HEALTH
GUIDELINES

8 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.

Looking for a countertop water filter?

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See the guide

Contaminants Detected

Nitrate

Potential Effect: cancer5.4x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.755 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 5.4 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.14 ppm or less

This Utility

0.755 ppm

Legal Limit

10 ppm

National Average

0.935 ppm

State Average

0.104 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

Nitrate and nitrite

Potential Effect: cancer5.4x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.755 ppm
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.14 ppm
LEGAL LIMIT10 ppm
DETAILS
X

Nitrate and nitrite

more about
this contaminant

Nitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, septic tanks and urban runoff. These contaminants can cause oxygen deprivation for infants and increase the risk of cancer. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Click here to read more about nitrate.

Nitrate and nitrite was found at 5.4 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.14 ppm or less

This Utility

0.755 ppm

Legal Limit

10 ppm

National Average

0.888 ppm

State Average

0.106 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 health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.

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

Radium, combined (-226 & -228)

Potential Effect: cancer7.1x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.36 pCi/L
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.05 pCi/L
LEGAL LIMIT5 pCi/L
DETAILS
X

Radium, combined (-226 & -228)

more about
this contaminant

Radium is a radioactive element that causes bone cancer and other cancers. It can occur naturally in groundwater, and oil and gas extraction activities such as hydraulic fracturing can elevate concentrations.

Radium, combined (-226 & -228) was found at 7.1 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.05 pCi/L or less

This Utility

0.36 pCi/L

Legal Limit

5 pCi/L

National Average

0.46 pCi/L

State Average

0.6 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

EWG applied the health guideline of 0.05 pCi/L, defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal for radium-226, to radium-226 and radium-228 combined. 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

Vinyl chloride

Potential Effect: cancer3.1x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.153 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.05 ppb
LEGAL LIMIT2 ppb
DETAILS
X

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride.

Vinyl chloride was found at 3.1 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.05 ppb or less

This Utility

0.153 ppb

Legal Limit

2 ppb

National Average

0.00198 ppb

State Average

0.00044 ppb
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 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride 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

urban area icon

Runoff & Sprawl

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Includes 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; radiological contaminants detected between 2014 and 2019.


Other Contaminants Tested


Smiths Crossing Water Association compliance with legally mandated federal standards:

  • From April 2019 to March 2021, Smiths Crossing Water Association complied with health-based drinking water standards.

Information in this section on Smiths Crossing Water Association 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
Nitrate
Nitrate & nitrite
Radium, combined (-226 & -228)
Vinyl chloride
OTHER CONTAMINANTS
DETECTED
Barium
Chromium (total)
Fluoride
Xylenes (total)

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