This system was not included in federal PFAS monitoring
FYI▾
Should I be concerned?
This system serves fewer than 3,300 people and was not required to participate in EPA UCMR5 testing. Absence of data is not the same as absence of contamination.
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
A naturally occurring metal found in mineral deposits. Enters water through erosion of natural deposits or discharge from drilling and metal refining operations.
Why it matters
At high levels, barium can cause increased blood pressure. Levels well below the MCL of 2 mg/L are not a health concern.
What to do
No action needed at typical detection levels. Barium is rarely found near its MCL in treated drinking water.
Radium-226▸
0.397 pCi/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
A naturally occurring radioactive element produced by the decay of uranium in rock and soil. Most common in deep groundwater.
Why it matters
Combined radium (226 + 228) has an MCL of 5 pCi/L. Radium-226 is an alpha emitter linked to bone cancer with long-term exposure.
What to do
Ion exchange and reverse osmosis filters are effective at reducing radium.
Radium-228▸
0.998 pCi/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
A naturally occurring radioactive element produced by the decay of thorium. Most common in deep groundwater.
Why it matters
Combined radium (226 + 228) has an MCL of 5 pCi/L. Radium-228 is a beta emitter linked to bone cancer with long-term exposure.
What to do
Ion exchange and reverse osmosis filters are effective at reducing radium.
Disinfection byproducts
TCAA▸
2.5 µg/L
Reference: MCLG
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. A non-enforceable EPA health goal, set at the concentration where no known or anticipated adverse health effect would occur. The legally enforceable standard for this contaminant lives at the parent-group level (e.g. TTHM, HAA5), not on the individual species.
What is it?
A haloacetic acid formed during chlorine disinfection of source water containing organic matter. One of five HAAs regulated together as HAA5.
Why it matters
EPA sets the MCLG at 0.02 mg/L based on liver effects observed in animal studies. Classified as suggestive but not yet established as a human carcinogen. Regulated as part of the HAA5 group (60 µg/L).
What to do
Like other HAAs, TCAA is reduced by carbon-block filtration at point-of-use (NSF/ANSI 53 certified for VOCs). Reducing the parent organic load — through utility-side treatment changes — is the more effective approach at scale.
MCAA▸
0.92 µg/L
Reference: MCLG
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. A non-enforceable EPA health goal, set at the concentration where no known or anticipated adverse health effect would occur. The legally enforceable standard for this contaminant lives at the parent-group level (e.g. TTHM, HAA5), not on the individual species.
What is it?
A haloacetic acid formed in smaller quantities than DCAA or TCAA during chlorine disinfection. One of five HAAs regulated together as HAA5.
Why it matters
EPA sets the MCLG at 0.07 mg/L based on developmental and reproductive effects in animal studies. Less studied than the other HAAs but regulated as part of the HAA5 group.
What to do
Reduced by point-of-use carbon-block filtration (NSF/ANSI 53). Like other HAAs, source-water treatment is the more effective control at scale.
DBAA▸
8 µg/L
What is it?
A brominated haloacetic acid formed in chlorinated water with elevated bromide. One of five HAAs regulated together as HAA5.
Why it matters
EPA has not established an individual MCLG for DBAA — there isn't enough data yet to identify a no-effect level. Regulated as part of HAA5 (60 µg/L), since the group is associated with cancer and developmental concerns.
What to do
Reduced by point-of-use carbon-block filtration (NSF/ANSI 53). Source-water treatment is the more effective control.
DCAA▸
3.2 µg/L
What is it?
A haloacetic acid formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter during disinfection. One of five HAAs regulated together as HAA5 (limit: 60 µg/L).
Why it matters
EPA classifies DCAA as a likely human carcinogen and sets the MCLG at zero. Animal studies show liver, neurological, and reproductive effects, and developmental concerns have been raised at high prenatal exposures. The HAA5 group limit reflects feasibility, not the MCLG.
What to do
DCAA forms in your utility's treatment process. Point-of-use carbon-block filters certified for VOC reduction (NSF/ANSI 53) can reduce HAAs. Running cold tap water briefly before drinking helps clear water that has sat in pipes where DBPs continue to form.
MBAA▸
1.8 µg/L
What is it?
A brominated haloacetic acid formed when chlorine reacts with bromide-containing organic matter during disinfection. One of five HAAs regulated together as HAA5.
Why it matters
EPA has not established an MCLG for MBAA — the toxicology data is more limited than for the other HAAs. It's still regulated as part of the HAA5 group (60 µg/L) because the group as a whole is associated with cancer and developmental risk.
What to do
Reduced by point-of-use carbon-block filtration (NSF/ANSI 53). As with all HAAs, source-water treatment is the more effective control at scale.
HAA5▸
14.7 µg/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
Another group of disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. HAA5 measures the five most common species.
Why it matters
Long-term exposure above the MCL of 60 µg/L (0.060 mg/L) is associated with increased cancer risk. Like THMs, the MCL is based on a running annual average.
What to do
Activated carbon filters can reduce HAA5. If your system consistently approaches the limit, a reverse osmosis filter provides more complete removal.
DBCM▸
5.4 µg/L
Reference: MCLG
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. A non-enforceable EPA health goal, set at the concentration where no known or anticipated adverse health effect would occur. The legally enforceable standard for this contaminant lives at the parent-group level (e.g. TTHM, HAA5), not on the individual species.
What is it?
A brominated trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with bromide-containing organic matter. More common in source waters with higher bromide levels — often coastal or groundwater systems.
Why it matters
EPA sets the MCLG at 0.06 mg/L based on liver and kidney effects. Some evidence suggests DBCM may be carcinogenic, though the data is less clear than for BDCM and bromoform. Regulated together with the other three trihalomethanes under TTHM.
What to do
Like other THMs, DBCM forms in the distribution system as chlorine reacts over time. A point-of-use carbon-block filter (NSF/ANSI 53) reduces it along with related compounds.
Chloroform▸
3.3 µg/L
Reference: MCLG
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. A non-enforceable EPA health goal, set at the concentration where no known or anticipated adverse health effect would occur. The legally enforceable standard for this contaminant lives at the parent-group level (e.g. TTHM, HAA5), not on the individual species.
What is it?
A disinfection byproduct formed when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in source water. The most common of the four trihalomethanes.
Why it matters
Long-term exposure has been associated with increased risk of bladder cancer and possibly colorectal cancer. EPA classifies it as a probable human carcinogen and sets an MCLG of 0.07 mg/L based on liver effects. Regulated together with three other trihalomethanes under the TTHM standard (80 µg/L).
What to do
Chloroform levels are largely a function of how your utility manages disinfection. If TTHM is approaching the limit, a carbon-block filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified for VOCs or specifically for trihalomethanes) at point-of-use reduces it. Letting cold water run for 30 seconds before drinking can also help, since chloroform forms in the distribution system.
BDCM▸
4.3 µg/L
What is it?
A brominated trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter and bromide in source water. One of four trihalomethanes regulated together under TTHM.
Why it matters
EPA classifies BDCM as a probable human carcinogen and sets the MCLG at zero, meaning the agency identifies no safe lifetime exposure level. Studies link it to bladder and colon cancer, and to reproductive and developmental effects at high exposures. The enforceable limit (80 µg/L for total TTHM) reflects what's feasible to achieve, not what's safest.
What to do
BDCM is formed in your utility's system, so reducing it generally means reducing total disinfection byproducts there. At point-of-use, a carbon-block filter certified for VOCs or trihalomethanes (NSF/ANSI 53) reduces BDCM along with other THMs.
Bromoform▸
11.8 µg/L
What is it?
A fully brominated trihalomethane, formed when chlorine reacts with high-bromide source water. More common in coastal and arid-region systems where source water naturally contains bromide.
Why it matters
EPA classifies bromoform as a probable human carcinogen, with an MCLG of zero. Animal studies show liver and intestinal tumors; human evidence is more limited but consistent with the other brominated THMs. Regulated under the TTHM standard (80 µg/L for the sum of all four).
What to do
Reducing bromoform usually means working at the source — your utility may need to adjust disinfection or pretreatment. At home, an NSF/ANSI 53 carbon-block filter reduces bromoform along with the other THMs.
TTHM▸
24.8 µg/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
Formed when chlorine used to disinfect water reacts with natural organic matter. Includes chloroform, bromoform, and related compounds. The trade-off: disinfection prevents waterborne disease, but creates these byproducts.
Why it matters
Long-term exposure above the MCL of 80 µg/L (0.080 mg/L) is associated with increased cancer risk and possible reproductive effects. The MCL is based on a running annual average, not a single sample.
What to do
If your system is near or above the limit, an activated carbon filter (including pitcher filters like Brita) can reduce THMs. Running water for a minute before drinking also helps, as THMs are volatile and dissipate.