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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Cadmium

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Cadmium is a toxic metal found in food and drinking water. It has been linked to kidney toxicity, bone damage, cancer, and damage to developing fetuses.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

42

states detected

626

utilities detected

7.0 million

people served

41

states over health guideline

508

utilities over health guideline

3.0 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for cadmium

Cancer

Harm to the kidney

Change in behavior

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.04 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.04 ppb for cadmium 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 harm to internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for cadmium, established in 1991, was based on research studies of cadmium toxicity conducted in the 1970s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to cadmium exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting cadmium in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Florida1291,279,0591452,000,851
Colorado4558,676831,869,909
Virginia611,61317764,303
Wisconsin56345,70764450,495
Maryland9334,9279334,927
Arizona620,2777255,043
Pennsylvania2082,28829199,828
New Jersey19118,62522172,375
New York29113,58033162,651
Ohio13159,48811148,825
California3151,58842113,907
Massachusetts685,132685,132
Missouri3754,3613964,136
Iowa00947,594
Delaware234,203234,203
Montana231,045231,045
Illinois630,357630,357
Louisiana728,692728,692
Indiana228,562228,562
South Carolina1414,7301726,704
Utah524,406624,896
Nevada322,791322,791
Texas419,689419,689
Alaska1160218,382
North Carolina2381315,946
Idaho315,871315,871
Maine150214,075
Kentucky413,670413,670
West Virginia45,810512,607
Rhode Island210,044210,044
New Hampshire19,00019,000
Connecticut134,304134,304
New Mexico32,51132,511
Tennessee12,30412,304
Washington101,963101,963
Oregon21,53021,530
Mississippi21,30521,305
Arkansas31,19831,198
Nebraska28092809
Minnesota18001800
Michigan158158
Georgia152152
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce cadmium

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Utilities with the highest amounts of cadmium, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Crown King Water CompanyGlendale, AZ25 of 317.31 ppb203
Shelby, Village ofShelby, NE1 of 25.95 ppb714
Vista Del Toro WsSalinas, CA23 of 275.70 ppb87
Higby Club Water SystemEagle Bay, NY1 of 34.40 ppb50
Hoosier Hills Regional Water District*Milan, IN1 of 14.30 ppb8,642
Holton Community Water CorporationHolton, IN1 of 14.30 ppb2,363
Milan Water WorksMilan, IN1 of 14.30 ppb1,899
Versailles Water WorksVersailles, IN1 of 14.30 ppb1,784
North Fork Creek IIAustin, TX4 of 93.72 ppb384
Desoto PWSDe Soto, MO24 of 263.02 ppb6,400
Edgemere Condominium Association Inc.East Hampton, CT1 of 43.00 ppb540
Pinedale Estates DwidLakeside, AZ1 of 13.00 ppb208
Bluewater Lake Mutual Domestic Water Consumers AssociationPrewitt, NM1 of 23.00 ppb135
Sneedville Utility DistrictSneedville, TN2 of 22.82 ppb2,304
Heritage ParkFair Oaks, CA1 of 12.80 ppb40
T&j Mobilehome ParkOrland, CA1 of 22.80 ppb150
Halcyon Water SystemHalcyon, CA2 of 22.65 ppb105
Winola Water CompanyClarks Summit, PA1 of 42.63 ppb130
Country Squire Mobile ManorYakima, WA1 of 22.50 ppb131
Central Leisure Lake Mobile Home Park & RvAuburndale, FL1 of 22.50 ppb194
Greenfield RanchettesGilbert, AZ1 of 12.30 ppb53
High Chaparral Estates Mobile Home ParkCalabasas, OK1 of 62.28 ppb225
Cal Am Water Company - BishopMonterey, CA5 of 52.20 ppb930
Valley Springs Water CompanyCoatesville, PA2 of 22.20 ppb2,500
Castle Craig SubdivisionRoanoke, VA1 of 32.13 ppb78
Mystic HarbourBerlin, MD3 of 62.08 ppb3,600
Yoder, Town OfYoder, WY1 of 12.00 ppb158
Prine Drive ApartmentsPort Orchard, WA1 of 12.00 ppb40
Village Market PlaceWatertown, CT1 of 22.00 ppb462
Holiday Mobile Park Inc.Wappingers Falls, NY2 of 101.92 ppb250
Navajo Water - Chaparral PinesDenver, AZ1 of 21.90 ppb237
Clevenger Branch Members CorporationHollister, MO2 of 21.90 ppb150
Calera Canyon Heights Homeowners AssociationSalinas, CA3 of 31.87 ppb39
NewarkBerlin, MD1 of 21.85 ppb250
Oaklane Mobile Village LLCRoseville, CA1 of 11.80 ppb75
Granville*Granville, IL1 of 31.77 ppb1,400
Oak Park EstatesGranville, IL1 of 31.77 ppb200
H2o Inc.Arroyo Grande, CA1 of 11.70 ppb60
Bailey Place Mobile Home ParkMulberry, FL2 of 21.65 ppb150
Lynnwood Water CorporationPeru, IL1 of 21.65 ppb100
Del Oro East Plano DistrictChico, CA1 of 21.65 ppb50
MilfordMilford, IL1 of 31.63 ppb1,369
Fort Polk North Water SystemFort Polk, LA4 of 181.62 ppb9,420
Morehead ParkGreenbrae, CA1 of 31.60 ppb300
Gold Hill Mobilehome ParkRoseville, CA1 of 21.60 ppb75
Fellowship Of FriendsOregon House, CA1 of 11.60 ppb325
Park Hills PWSPark Hills, MO2 of 21.57 ppb8,566
Alma Center WaterworksAlma Center, WI2 of 21.50 ppb509
York County SheltersAlfred, ME1 of 21.50 ppb100
Rome Water UtilityNekoosa, WI1 of 21.50 ppb2,775

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Cadmium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Helena Water SystemHelena, MT1 of 30.667 ppb31,005
Nipomo Comm. Services DistrictNipomo, CA7 of 120.658 ppb10,867
Acton MUD*Granbury, TX3 of 440.621 ppb19,125
City of BartowBartow, FL3 of 50.500 ppb21,501
North Port UtilitiesNorth Port, FL2 of 70.429 ppb49,014
Platteville WaterworksPlatteville, WI1 of 50.400 ppb12,268
Glen Burnie-BroadneckMillersville, MD1 of 50.400 ppb290,606
Troy*Troy, MO1 of 90.378 ppb10,500
University of South FloridaTampa, FL2 of 20.300 ppb50,000
Morton*Morton, IL1 of 80.288 ppb17,000
Bordentown Water Departm*Bordentown, NJ2 of 20.250 ppb15,821
Caryville-Jacksboro UtilitiesJacksboro, TN1 of 10.250 ppb11,902
Huber Heights Public Water SystemHuber Heights, OH2 of 40.250 ppb38,278
City of WestminsterWestminster, MD2 of 270.233 ppb35,256
Diablo Water DistrictOakley, CA1 of 60.233 ppb36,014
Sandusky City*Sandusky, OH1 of 80.225 ppb25,793
Minden Water SystemMinden, LA6 of 440.222 ppb16,950
City of Rio Grande City*Rio Grande City, TX1 of 110.191 ppb17,901
Loves ParkLoves Park, IL1 of 100.190 ppb23,744
Peekskill City*Peekskill, NY1 of 60.167 ppb52,969
City of BradentonBradenton, FL1 of 60.167 ppb54,409
Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Wells WDKennebunk, ME1 of 230.130 ppb34,250
Speedway Water WorksSpeedway, IN1 of 100.130 ppb12,140
Greencastle Department of Water*Greencastle, IN1 of 40.125 ppb12,699
Franklin Water UtilityFranklin, WI1 of 10.120 ppb22,500
Aqua Ohio - TiffinTiffin, OH1 of 70.114 ppb17,963
City of Zephyrhills*Zephyrhills, FL6 of 160.106 ppb23,097
Arroyo Grande,Water DepartmentArroyo Grande, CA1 of 190.105 ppb17,064
City of Temple Terrace UtilityTemple Terrace, FL2 of 40.1000 ppb31,250
Silver Springs Shores*Ocala, FL1 of 100.1000 ppb19,569
Beverly Hills / Rolling Oaks SubdivisionBeverly Hills, FL1 of 180.1000 ppb11,572
PCUD-Pasco County Regional Public Water System*New Port Richey, FL1 of 90.1000 ppb214,409
Lakehaven Utility DistrictFederal Way, WA1 of 140.1000 ppb116,733
Hurlburt Field AFB Water Sys.Hurlburt Field, FL1 of 100.1000 ppb10,608
Frankfort Water WorksFrankfort, IN1 of 40.1000 ppb16,422
City of Show LowShow Low, AZ14 of 210.0952 ppb17,139
MoultrieMoultrie, GA1 of 110.0909 ppb14,361
Monroe Twp MUAWilliamstown, NJ10 of 140.0889 ppb26,179
Bridgeton City Water DepartmentBridgeton, NJ5 of 80.0863 ppb22,770
Burlington Twp W DepartmentBurlington, NJ1 of 60.0833 ppb22,594
City of Havre De Grace*Havre De Grace, MD1 of 60.0833 ppb14,000
Mcguire Air Force BaseJoint Base Mdl, NJ2 of 60.0833 ppb12,227
Vineland Water & Sewer UtilityVineland, NJ12 of 220.0822 ppb36,250
Villages of Lake - Sumter - WTPs 1 3 & 5The Villages, FL1 of 100.0700 ppb18,603
VC/Southwest Water SystemOrange City, FL2 of 60.0667 ppb17,563
City of Casselberry*Casselberry, FL1 of 60.0667 ppb54,747
Sanford Water DistrictSanford, ME4 of 910.0659 ppb14,025
City of ElkoElko, NV1 of 160.0625 ppb20,451
United Water RahwayHighland Lakes, NJ1 of 60.0600 ppb27,300
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - WilmingtonWilmington, NC1 of 170.0588 ppb153,202

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Cadmium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.