Monobromoacetic acid
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Monobromoacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.
2017-2019:
FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES
44
states detected
6,529
utilities detected
98 million
people served
1
states over health guideline
2
utilities over health guideline
159
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for monobromoacetic acid
Change to fetal growth and development
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 25 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 25 ppb for monobromoacetic acid was proposed in 2020 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 muscular degeneration.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting monobromoacetic acid in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 0 | 0 | 343 | 18,072,619 | |||
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 976 | 16,107,922 | |||
| Illinois | 2 | 159 | 587 | 6,704,455 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 160 | 4,631,824 | |||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 208 | 4,147,989 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 134 | 3,989,543 | |||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 336 | 3,959,672 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 0 | 119 | 3,856,932 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 64 | 3,696,800 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 455 | 3,630,750 | |||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | 286 | 3,185,465 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 192 | 3,165,549 | |||
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2,517,506 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 230 | 2,396,632 | |||
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 226 | 2,363,472 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 165 | 2,247,186 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 295 | 2,125,493 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 92 | 1,952,388 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 109 | 1,800,039 | |||
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 618 | 1,684,137 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 93 | 1,280,918 | |||
| Mississippi | 0 | 0 | 183 | 958,613 | |||
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 212 | 856,118 | |||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 22 | 744,281 | |||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 117 | 611,008 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 46 | 310,611 | |||
| Montana | 0 | 0 | 71 | 187,188 | |||
| North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 46 | 185,267 | |||
| Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 39 | 163,420 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 6 | 160,053 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 13 | 143,844 | |||
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 9 | 132,526 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 8 | 100,948 | |||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 10 | 76,365 | |||
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70,859 | |||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 10 | 59,148 | |||
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 4 | 40,615 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 7 | 36,560 | |||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26,868 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18,000 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4,412 | |||
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1,350 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 880 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 865 | |||
MORE
LESS
Filtering technologies that reduce monobromoacetic acid
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of monobromoacetic acid, 2017-2019
ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek Estates | Cypress, TX | 1 of 2 | 21.2 ppb | 108 |
| Eberts 3rd Addition | Milan, IL | 1 of 2 | 20.8 ppb | 99 |
| Ccm Water Association | Okolona, MS | 2 of 2 | 17.5 ppb | 359 |
| Vroman Water Company | Manzanola, CO | 1 of 1 | 16.5 ppb | 125 |
| Helena Water District | Brasher Falls, NY | 1 of 1 | 16.0 ppb | 180 |
| Ocean Lakes Ltd | Myrtle Beach, SC | 46 of 48 | 15.9 ppb | 6,243 |
| Ridgecrest North Subdivision | Morris, IL | 1 of 2 | 15.7 ppb | 60 |
| Bucksport Water Company | Conway, SC | 93 of 96 | 14.6 ppb | 15,297 |
| Triton Valley Estates Mobile Home Park | Bowmansville, NY | 1 of 1 | 14.0 ppb | 80 |
| New Zion Utilities Inc. | Wiggins, MS | 1 of 1 | 13.0 ppb | 1,748 |
| Pilgrim Rest Water Association | Carthage, MS | 2 of 2 | 11.5 ppb | 340 |
| Windwood Farm Home (sc1070963) | Awendaw, SC | 12 of 12 | 9.45 ppb | 33 |
| Rio | Rio, IL | 1 of 2 | 9.45 ppb | 262 |
| Fcsa #32/cantua Creek | Fresno, CA | 22 of 23 | 9.21 ppb | 250 |
| Bluewater Lake Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association | Prewitt, NM | 1 of 1 | 9.20 ppb | 135 |
| Chigakwa Park Estates | Illinois City, IL | 1 of 2 | 9.10 ppb | 42 |
| Flint Creek Utility Association | Wiggins, MS | 1 of 1 | 9.00 ppb | 329 |
| Seaton | Seaton, IL | 1 of 2 | 8.75 ppb | 200 |
| Mooreville-richmond W/a #2 | Mooreville, MS | 3 of 3 | 8.67 ppb | 3,157 |
| Naval Station Washington - WNY | Washington Navy Yard, DC | 1 of 1 | 8.10 ppb | 15,690 |
| D.C. Water and Sewer Authority* | Washington, DC | 1 of 1 | 8.10 ppb | 632,323 |
| Egyptian Water Company* | Nashville, IL | 12 of 24 | 7.86 ppb | 1,977 |
| Bon Harbours | Rockville, VA | 1 of 1 | 7.83 ppb | 96 |
| Fcsa #30/el Porvenir | Fresno, CA | 23 of 23 | 7.68 ppb | 130 |
| Bellavista Estates | Roanoke, VA | 1 of 2 | 7.65 ppb | 45 |
| Strong Waterworks | Strong, AR | 7 of 13 | 7.55 ppb | 1,195 |
| Strawberry | Strawberry, AR | 1 of 7 | 7.40 ppb | 954 |
| Eastland Special Service District | Monticello, UT | 1 of 2 | 7.10 ppb | 90 |
| North Lee W/a #2-birmingham Rd.* | Saltillo, MS | 2 of 2 | 7.00 ppb | 1,690 |
| Stone Utility Association | Lumberton, MS | 1 of 1 | 7.00 ppb | 2,000 |
| Hilltop Mobile Home Park | Bloomington, IL | 15 of 24 | 6.97 ppb | 1,360 |
| Sparta* | Sparta, IL | 45 of 79 | 6.88 ppb | 4,600 |
| Girard Borough Water Department | Girard, PA | 1 of 2 | 6.80 ppb | 3,301 |
| Bolckow PWS* | Bolckow, MO | 2 of 2 | 6.65 ppb | 187 |
| Camp Loma Mar | Oakland , CA | 11 of 22 | 6.56 ppb | 176 |
| Panoche Water District | Firebaugh, CA | 57 of 64 | 6.54 ppb | 146 |
| Caair | Jay, OK | 1 of 5 | 6.46 ppb | 100 |
| Boonville PWS* | Boonville, MO | 31 of 48 | 6.14 ppb | 8,319 |
| Roper Water System | Roper, NC | 19 of 49 | 6.05 ppb | 546 |
| Chenango Valley Mobile Home Park | Eaton, NY | 1 of 2 | 6.00 ppb | 50 |
| Xenia | Xenia, IL | 3 of 6 | 5.88 ppb | 545 |
| Gateway Regional Water Company* | Sandoval, IL | 3 of 6 | 5.88 ppb | 1 |
| Oak Grove Mobile Home Park - Madison County | Farmington Hills, IL | 2 of 3 | 5.86 ppb | 150 |
| Fcsa #49/ Five Points | Fresno, CA | 20 of 21 | 5.86 ppb | 122 |
| Lugoff Elgin Water Authority | Lugoff, SC | 89 of 96 | 5.81 ppb | 20,584 |
| North Meadow Village Mobile Home Park | Normal, IL | 1 of 2 | 5.80 ppb | 495 |
| Divide Water Providers Inc.* | Divide, CO | 1 of 2 | 5.65 ppb | 570 |
| Aqua Illinois-university Park | Kankakee, IL | 2 of 7 | 5.56 ppb | 7,052 |
| Hays Creek W/a-minerva | Winona, MS | 1 of 2 | 5.50 ppb | 550 |
| Berkeley County PSD/Opequon | Martinsburg, WV | 101 of 102 | 5.50 ppb | 27,335 |
* 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 Monobromoacetic acid, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucksport Water Company | Conway, SC | 93 of 96 | 14.6 ppb | 15,297 |
| D.C. Water and Sewer Authority* | Washington, DC | 1 of 1 | 8.10 ppb | 632,323 |
| Naval Station Washington - WNY | Washington Navy Yard, DC | 1 of 1 | 8.10 ppb | 15,690 |
| Lugoff Elgin Water Authority | Lugoff, SC | 89 of 96 | 5.81 ppb | 20,584 |
| Berkeley County PSD/Opequon | Martinsburg, WV | 101 of 102 | 5.50 ppb | 27,335 |
| Murphysboro* | Murphysboro, IL | 44 of 96 | 5.01 ppb | 10,941 |
| Marshall* | Marshall, MO | 47 of 96 | 4.93 ppb | 13,065 |
| St Albans Water | Saint Albans, WV | 105 of 108 | 4.68 ppb | 13,619 |
| South Island PSD | Hilton Head Island, SC | 79 of 92 | 4.62 ppb | 18,299 |
| Marco Rural Water Company* | Marion, SC | 89 of 92 | 4.51 ppb | 15,082 |
| Lake of Egypt PWD* | Marion, IL | 35 of 82 | 4.40 ppb | 10,345 |
| Canton* | Canton, IL | 21 of 54 | 4.37 ppb | 14,700 |
| Norfolk Naval Shipyard | Portsmouth, VA | 86 of 90 | 3.93 ppb | 17,000 |
| City of Portsmouth* | Suffolk, VA | 86 of 90 | 3.93 ppb | 120,400 |
| Loveland City PWS | Loveland, OH | 33 of 48 | 3.76 ppb | 12,800 |
| Marion | Marion, IL | 30 of 96 | 3.67 ppb | 17,428 |
| BCWSA East Cooper | Moncks Corner, SC | 93 of 96 | 3.31 ppb | 10,705 |
| East Moline* | East Moline, IL | 32 of 96 | 3.30 ppb | 20,500 |
| North Myrtle Beach | N Myrtle Beach, SC | 80 of 96 | 3.28 ppb | 29,872 |
| City of Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach, SC | 113 of 120 | 3.22 ppb | 50,920 |
| City of Goose Creek | Goose Creek, SC | 93 of 96 | 3.22 ppb | 25,121 |
| Festus | Festus, MO | 19 of 48 | 3.12 ppb | 11,600 |
| Centralia* | Centralia, IL | 33 of 96 | 3.03 ppb | 14,274 |
| Indian Hill City PWS | Cincinnati, OH | 11 of 20 | 2.95 ppb | 15,000 |
| Columbia* | Columbia, MO | 54 of 144 | 2.87 ppb | 100,733 |
| City of Denison* | Denison, TX | 67 of 100 | 2.85 ppb | 22,682 |
| Summerville* | Summerville, SC | 180 of 192 | 2.84 ppb | 81,750 |
| Excelsior Springs* | Excelsior Springs, MO | 45 of 96 | 2.74 ppb | 11,084 |
| GCWSD Waccamaw Neck | Pawleys Island, SC | 91 of 124 | 2.71 ppb | 38,364 |
| Bcwsa Sangaree WD | Moncks Corner, SC | 76 of 96 | 2.51 ppb | 62,883 |
| Brownville Water System | West Monroe, LA | 72 of 104 | 2.41 ppb | 10,872 |
| Bedford City PWS | Bedford, OH | 369 of 539 | 2.41 ppb | 13,074 |
| Cleveland Public Water System* | Cleveland, OH | 369 of 539 | 2.41 ppb | 1,262,955 |
| Hilton Head PSD 1 | Hilton Head Island, SC | 79 of 96 | 2.35 ppb | 25,558 |
| DCWA Knightsville | Summerville, SC | 72 of 96 | 2.31 ppb | 23,513 |
| Fayetteville Public Works Commission* | Fayetteville, NC | 123 of 200 | 2.27 ppb | 217,948 |
| City of Columbia* | Columbia, SC | 221 of 248 | 2.24 ppb | 319,500 |
| Rockford | Rockford, IL | 6 of 64 | 2.23 ppb | 147,051 |
| Lansing* | Lansing, IL | 7 of 50 | 2.21 ppb | 28,663 |
| City of Mineral Wells* | Mineral Wells, TX | 91 of 96 | 2.17 ppb | 14,826 |
| Thomas Hill PWSD 1* | Moberly, MO | 15 of 48 | 2.14 ppb | 10,315 |
| Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District* | Roanoke Rapdis, NC | 30 of 99 | 2.11 ppb | 16,312 |
| Zion* | Zion, IL | 2 of 6 | 2.10 ppb | 24,413 |
| Town of Blacksburg* | Blacksburg, VA | 2 of 3 | 2.09 ppb | 34,578 |
| Town of Christiansburg* | Christiansburg, VA | 2 of 3 | 2.09 ppb | 22,000 |
| Fort Jackson | Fort Jackson, SC | 79 of 96 | 2.08 ppb | 32,391 |
| City of Cayce | Cayce, SC | 76 of 96 | 2.07 ppb | 19,269 |
| City of Midland | Midland, TX | 138 of 192 | 2.06 ppb | 132,950 |
| Jersey RWC* | Jerseyville, IL | 25 of 96 | 2.06 ppb | 16,540 |
| Little River WSA | Little River, SC | 75 of 96 | 2.04 ppb | 22,256 |
* 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 Monobromoacetic acid, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.