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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane is a pesticide fumigant banned in the 1970s after scientists discovered it caused sterility in men who worked with it. The chemical causes cancer in laboratory animals and may cause cancer in people. Read More.

This pesticide breaks down very slowly in the environment. It remains in groundwater and drinking water wells in the agricultural areas where it was sprayed in the past. Men exposed to this pesticide in the fields suffered from infertility and testicular damage, and tended to have fewer male babies.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

13

states detected

181

utilities detected

6.3 million

people served

11

states over health guideline

135

utilities over health guideline

4.1 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane

Testicular cancer

Harm to the male reproductive system

Infertility

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.0017 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.0017 ppb for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane 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.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 0.2 ppb

The legal limit for 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, established in 1991, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
California932,979,2711183,811,101
Virginia349,71010800,621
Florida7311,67314586,694
Arizona6520,2216520,221
Hawaii5100,6269353,564
South Carolina13100,74613100,746
Maryland27,936338,279
North Carolina217,025217,025
Colorado26,05526,055
Kentucky15,60915,609
Massachusetts0015,257
Oklahoma0013,746
New Jersey12,46312,463
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Son Shine PropertiesEdison, CA23 of 240.249 ppb438
City of LindsayLindsay, CA40 of 430.178 ppb13,445
Sierra Vista AssociationDelano, CA1 of 10.140 ppb44
Acampo Water SystemStockton, CA5 of 50.132 ppb150
George Cox Water SystemReedley, CA19 of 240.116 ppb40
B&g Mobile Home Park LLC WsFresno, CA2 of 30.110 ppb50
Oasis InvestmentsModesto, CA6 of 60.1000 ppb75
Cobles CornerCeres, CA5 of 50.0912 ppb50
Hibiscus Homes (sc4360037)Sumter, SC21 of 220.0908 ppb280
Tully Mobile EstatesModesto, CA96 of 1720.0904 ppb40
San Antonio Water Company*Upland, CA91 of 1510.0888 ppb3,371
City Of WaterfordWaterford, CA188 of 2370.0878 ppb7,897
Cutler Public Utility DistrictCutler, CA73 of 760.0814 ppb6,200
City of DinubaDinuba, CA88 of 1070.0805 ppb23,666
City of MantecaManteca, CA71 of 1090.0746 ppb66,451
Plainview Mutual Water CompanyStrathmore, CA2 of 30.0733 ppb617
City of Fresno*Fresno, CA1288 of 2,2670.0631 ppb522,352
Fcsa #39 A&bFresno, CA1288 of 2,2670.0631 ppb465
Country Manor Mobile Home ParkLodi, CA11 of 630.0605 ppb75
City Of Modesto, De HillcrestModesto, CA14 of 170.0605 ppb1,322
City of FowlerFowler, CA22 of 280.0589 ppb5,801
Bakman Water CompanyFresno, CA90 of 1310.0588 ppb8,866
City of AtwaterAtwater, CA63 of 960.0574 ppb29,050
Olive Avenue Homeowners AssociationLitchfield Park, AZ8 of 80.0546 ppb25
City of ParlierParlier, CA9 of 90.0512 ppb12,058
Caruthers Community Services DistrictCaruthers, CA22 of 430.0475 ppb2,497
City of KingsburgKingsburg, CA24 of 310.0473 ppb11,504
Upper Deerfield Township Water DepartmentSeabrook, NJ16 of 290.0428 ppb2,463
Wine Country ApartmentsLodi, CA17 of 270.0411 ppb40
Hughson, City OfHughson, CA7 of 90.0402 ppb6,082
City of ExeterExeter, CA32 of 430.0402 ppb10,539
West Lane Mobile Home ParkHillsborough, CA21 of 690.0401 ppb160
Md#28 Ripperdan Self HelpMadera, CA7 of 70.0394 ppb48
Stockton Verde Mobile Home ParkSanta Ana, CA22 of 300.0393 ppb590
City of ClovisClovis, CA481 of 7530.0392 ppb103,871
Sultana Community Services DistrictSultana, CA4 of 40.0375 ppb650
City Of Modesto, De GraysonModesto, CA4 of 40.0345 ppb1,219
LahainaWailuku, HI255 of 8410.0342 ppb20,065
Easton Estates Water CompanyFresno, CA8 of 100.0337 ppb302
Sumter-wessex S/dSumter, SC22 of 230.0334 ppb412
Malaga County Water DistrictFresno, CA8 of 110.0333 ppb1,500
East Orosi Community Services DistrictOrosi, CA1 of 20.0325 ppb700
City of Upland*Upland, CA52 of 1100.0290 ppb78,791
California Water Service (CWS) - SelmaSan Jose, CA119 of 1930.0286 ppb24,587
City of LodiLodi, CA319 of 7820.0281 ppb63,395
City of MaderaMadera, CA23 of 670.0272 ppb63,105
City of SangerSanger, CA236 of 3550.0268 ppb25,664
Md#37 La VinaMadera, CA3 of 40.0263 ppb350
City of DelanoDelano, CA52 of 870.0258 ppb49,800
Madera Csa No. 3 ParksdaleMadera, CA4 of 60.0253 ppb1,750

* 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 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
City of LindsayLindsay, CA40 of 430.178 ppb13,445
City of DinubaDinuba, CA88 of 1070.0805 ppb23,666
City of MantecaManteca, CA71 of 1090.0746 ppb66,451
City of Fresno*Fresno, CA1288 of 2,2670.0631 ppb522,352
City of AtwaterAtwater, CA63 of 960.0574 ppb29,050
City of ParlierParlier, CA9 of 90.0512 ppb12,058
City of KingsburgKingsburg, CA24 of 310.0473 ppb11,504
City of ExeterExeter, CA32 of 430.0402 ppb10,539
City of ClovisClovis, CA481 of 7530.0392 ppb103,871
LahainaWailuku, HI255 of 8410.0342 ppb20,065
City of Upland*Upland, CA52 of 1100.0290 ppb78,791
California Water Service (CWS) - SelmaSan Jose, CA119 of 1930.0286 ppb24,587
City of LodiLodi, CA319 of 7820.0281 ppb63,395
City of MaderaMadera, CA23 of 670.0272 ppb63,105
City of SangerSanger, CA236 of 3550.0268 ppb25,664
City of DelanoDelano, CA52 of 870.0258 ppb49,800
City of ReedleyReedley, CA29 of 700.0248 ppb24,842
City of LivingstonLivingston, CA47 of 1300.0248 ppb14,894
Cucamonga Valley Water District*Rancho Cucamonga, CA1225 of 1,9420.0248 ppb190,308
Los Angeles CWWD 40, R24, 27,33-Pearblsm*Alhambra, CA8 of 200.0220 ppb10,557
Ontario Municipal Utilities CompanyOntario, CA92 of 1360.0197 ppb167,382
Coachella Valley Water District: Cove Community*Palm Desert, CA24 of 640.0188 ppb198,544
MililaniHonolulu, HI6 of 630.0179 ppb50,573
City of ModestoModesto, CA173 of 6480.0171 ppb212,000
City of WascoWasco, CA31 of 690.0164 ppb21,170
MakawaoWailuku, HI92 of 1150.0144 ppb29,868
Town of Payson*Payson, AZ1 of 660.0123 ppb17,682
California State University FresnoFresno, CA2 of 40.0120 ppb23,000
City of ShafterShafter, CA14 of 430.0119 ppb16,928
Lamont Public Utility DistrictBakersfield, CA18 of 670.0106 ppb18,290
City of ChinoChino, CA3 of 110.0105 ppb18,907
City of TulareTulare, CA67 of 1730.0103 ppb60,823
City of El MirageEl Mirage, AZ15 of 510.01000 ppb39,884
City of CeresCeres, CA6 of 370.00846 ppb42,666
Arvin Community Services DistrictArvin, CA3 of 560.00755 ppb19,000
Beaumont Cherry Valley WD*Beaumont, CA3 of 160.00750 ppb44,000
Monte Vista Water District*Montclair, CA66 of 3110.00590 ppb54,460
Darlington County W&SA*Darlington, SC4 of 180.00556 ppb45,911
City of Turlock*Turlock, CA5 of 400.00550 ppb64,215
Epcor Water - Sun City West*Youngtown, AZ2 of 110.00546 ppb25,362
East Niles CSDBakersfield, CA2 of 90.00544 ppb26,000
City of RiponRipon, CA4 of 160.00425 ppb14,915
City of Mesa*Mesa, AZ7 of 670.00391 ppb466,000
La Verne WDLa Verne, CA9 of 400.00373 ppb32,230
Virginia-American Water Company*Hopewell, VA2 of 120.00333 ppb28,000
City of PeoriaPeoria, AZ9 of 1000.00310 ppb135,975
City of PortervillePorterville, CA13 of 920.00294 ppb55,107
City of PattersonPatterson, CA1 of 140.00286 ppb20,560
Pennsylvania American Water Company ButlerNew Castle, PA1 of 40.00250 ppb43,044
Orange County Utilities Department (OCUD) - EastOrlando, FL1 of 90.00222 ppb290,878

* 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 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.