Aluminum
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Aluminum is a metal released from metal refineries and mining operations. Too much aluminum exposure can impair children's brain development.
2017-2019:
FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES
35
states detected
5,719
utilities detected
91 million
people served
14
states over health guideline
65
utilities over health guideline
552,000
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for aluminum
Harm to the brain and nervous system
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 600 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 600 ppb for aluminum 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 the brain and nervous system.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting aluminum in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 11 | 63,290 | 589 | 18,468,292 | |||
| Texas | 10 | 139,090 | 1,457 | 16,128,723 | |||
| Florida | 1 | 298 | 351 | 10,863,970 | |||
| New Jersey | 4 | 36,766 | 202 | 6,314,688 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 186 | 4,260,878 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 220 | 4,142,700 | |||
| Louisiana | 17 | 257,951 | 465 | 4,011,761 | |||
| Alabama | 1 | 3,393 | 203 | 3,546,895 | |||
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 253 | 3,463,763 | |||
| Georgia | 2 | 2,474 | 215 | 2,988,256 | |||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2,523,970 | |||
| Wisconsin | 1 | 64 | 231 | 2,433,401 | |||
| Arkansas | 1 | 50 | 319 | 2,037,781 | |||
| Illinois | 6 | 26,695 | 219 | 1,930,397 | |||
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 56 | 1,620,521 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 48 | 1,225,577 | |||
| Missouri | 3 | 13,897 | 212 | 1,197,198 | |||
| Kansas | 1 | 363 | 304 | 967,066 | |||
| Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 29 | 906,664 | |||
| Utah | 1 | 1,640 | 20 | 560,284 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 0 | 14 | 372,524 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 9 | 347,925 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 8 | 246,311 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 11 | 199,934 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 18 | 198,250 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 5 | 131,186 | |||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 3 | 77,079 | |||
| Montana | 0 | 0 | 16 | 73,202 | |||
| West Virginia | 6 | 6,104 | 17 | 51,845 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 7 | 23,383 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16,125 | |||
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10,007 | |||
| North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2,113 | |||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | 1 | 70 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 1 | 62 | |||
MORE
LESS
Filtering technologies that reduce aluminum
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of aluminum, 2017-2019
ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mattoon* | Mattoon, IL | 1 of 1 | 5,800.0 ppb | 19,000 |
| Humboldt | Humboldt, IL | 1 of 1 | 5,800.0 ppb | 437 |
| Oil City Water Works | Oil City, LA | 8 of 8 | 2,727.5 ppb | 2,199 |
| Weybridge Subdivision Water System | Austin, TX | 2 of 2 | 2,647.5 ppb | 87 |
| Lumberport Town Of | Lumberport, WV | 1 of 1 | 2,430.0 ppb | 1,486 |
| Pitkin Water System | Pitkin, LA | 2 of 4 | 2,270.0 ppb | 750 |
| City of Hemphill* | Hemphill, TX | 6 of 6 | 2,006.5 ppb | 1,240 |
| Plainview Mutual Water Company - Central Water | Strathmore, CA | 1 of 1 | 1,400.0 ppb | 138 |
| Mendon City | Mendon, UT | 1 of 1 | 1,358.5 ppb | 1,640 |
| Tbcd Winnie Stowell | Stowell, TX | 6 of 6 | 1,358.0 ppb | 7,251 |
| San Miguel Ws #01 | Royal Oaks, CA | 1 of 1 | 1,300.0 ppb | 100 |
| Elbert Creek Water Co. | Durango, CO | 2 of 2 | 1,210.0 ppb | 525 |
| Inyokern Community Services District | Inyokern, CA | 1 of 4 | 1,150.0 ppb | 984 |
| Water Association of North Lake | Aubrey, TX | 2 of 2 | 1,135.0 ppb | 29 |
| Bluefield, Town of* | Bluefield, VA | 9 of 9 | 1,072.4 ppb | 5,811 |
| Seville Water Company | Visalia, CA | 4 of 4 | 1,013.0 ppb | 400 |
| Sandy Point 480 Water System | Campti, LA | 6 of 8 | 995.0 ppb | 675 |
| Duncan Prairie Mhc | Bloomer, WI | 1 of 1 | 944.0 ppb | 64 |
| Federal Correctional Complex-beaumont | Beaumont, TX | 8 of 9 | 943.7 ppb | 5,748 |
| Cardinal Meadows Improvement District | Beaumont, TX | 8 of 9 | 943.7 ppb | 163 |
| City of Beaumont Water Utility Department* | Beaumont, TX | 8 of 9 | 943.7 ppb | 118,129 |
| Northwest Forest Municipal Utility District | Beaumont, TX | 8 of 9 | 943.7 ppb | 610 |
| Wayne City* | Wayne City, IL | 1 of 1 | 930.0 ppb | 1,285 |
| Sims | Sims, IL | 1 of 1 | 930.0 ppb | 343 |
| Pixley Public Utility District | Pixley, CA | 12 of 13 | 910.8 ppb | 3,310 |
| Pine Beach Water Department | Pine Beach, NJ | 3 of 3 | 893.3 ppb | 2,130 |
| Armona Community Services District | Armona, CA | 71 of 86 | 889.7 ppb | 4,143 |
| Aqua NJ - Eastern Division | Hamilton, NJ | 117 of 118 | 844.6 ppb | 12,000 |
| West Conesville Water District | Gilboa, NY | 1 of 1 | 844.0 ppb | 54 |
| Westmorland, City Of | Westmorland, CA | 5 of 5 | 834.0 ppb | 2,444 |
| Jeffersonville | Jeffersonville, GA | 1 of 1 | 830.0 ppb | 2,204 |
| Barnegat Twp Water Sewer | Barnegat, NJ | 29 of 31 | 807.5 ppb | 20,000 |
| Clay Co. P S D - Ivydale | Clay, WV | 1 of 1 | 806.0 ppb | 680 |
| Clay Co. P S D-triplett Ridge | Clay, WV | 1 of 1 | 806.0 ppb | 103 |
| Clay Water Department* | Clay, WV | 1 of 1 | 806.0 ppb | 1,084 |
| Clay Co. Psd-hartland | Clay, WV | 1 of 1 | 806.0 ppb | 798 |
| Sea Girt Water Department | Sea Girt, NJ | 1 of 2 | 800.0 ppb | 2,636 |
| Ozark Acres Water | Hardy, AR | 1 of 2 | 790.0 ppb | 819 |
| Union County Water District* | Morganfield, KY | 6 of 7 | 790.0 ppb | 6,117 |
| Morganfield Water Works* | Morganfield, KY | 6 of 7 | 790.0 ppb | 5,170 |
| Lake Palo Pinto Area Water Supply Corporation | Gordon, TX | 6 of 6 | 715.0 ppb | 1,932 |
| Pendleton Water Association | Many, LA | 8 of 8 | 695.0 ppb | 2,328 |
| Town of Vinton Water System | Vinton, LA | 4 of 14 | 682.9 ppb | 4,494 |
| Rebel Ridge Village | Camptonville, CA | 7 of 8 | 660.6 ppb | 60 |
| Hosanna Heights | Mammoth Spring, AR | 4 of 10 | 655.0 ppb | 50 |
| Belle Rina | Baton Rouge, LA | 2 of 4 | 650.0 ppb | 88 |
| Pana | Pana, IL | 7 of 7 | 647.3 ppb | 5,847 |
| City of La Joya | La Joya, TX | 6 of 6 | 642.5 ppb | 3,033 |
| Happy Acres Mutual Water Company | Gilroy, CA | 1 of 1 | 640.0 ppb | 220 |
| Marceline PWS* | Marceline, MO | 6 of 6 | 608.7 ppb | 2,650 |
* 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 Aluminum, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mattoon* | Mattoon, IL | 1 of 1 | 5,800.0 ppb | 19,000 |
| City of Beaumont Water Utility Department* | Beaumont, TX | 8 of 9 | 943.7 ppb | 118,129 |
| Aqua NJ - Eastern Division | Hamilton, NJ | 117 of 118 | 844.6 ppb | 12,000 |
| Barnegat Twp Water Sewer | Barnegat, NJ | 29 of 31 | 807.5 ppb | 20,000 |
| North Monroe Et Al Water System | West Monroe, LA | 8 of 8 | 590.0 ppb | 10,866 |
| Lakeshore Swartz Water System | West Monroe, LA | 8 of 8 | 590.0 ppb | 11,330 |
| Monroe Water System* | Monroe, LA | 8 of 8 | 590.0 ppb | 52,572 |
| Natchitoches Water System* | Natchitoches, LA | 8 of 8 | 532.5 ppb | 30,000 |
| Shreveport Water System* | Shreveport, LA | 10 of 10 | 514.0 ppb | 201,000 |
| Barksdale Afb Water System | Barksdale Afb, LA | 10 of 10 | 514.0 ppb | 13,000 |
| Texarkana Water Utilities* | Texarkana, AR | 23 of 23 | 467.8 ppb | 30,015 |
| Tri-County Water Distbr District* | Russelville, AR | 21 of 21 | 456.3 ppb | 16,671 |
| Jacksonville* | Jacksonville, IL | 1 of 2 | 450.0 ppb | 19,446 |
| Southern Madison Water District* | Berea, KY | 4 of 7 | 433.1 ppb | 14,707 |
| Roxbury Water Company* | Washington, NJ | 8 of 21 | 427.0 ppb | 11,793 |
| City of Lemoore | Lemoore, CA | 18 of 18 | 423.3 ppb | 24,945 |
| Monticello Water & Sewer Commission* | Monticello, KY | 6 of 6 | 418.3 ppb | 21,000 |
| City of Brawley | Brawley, CA | 7 of 11 | 407.3 ppb | 51,793 |
| Taylorville* | Taylorville, IL | 1 of 1 | 400.0 ppb | 16,396 |
| City of Mabank* | Mabank, TX | 6 of 6 | 395.0 ppb | 11,349 |
| Magnolia Waterworks* | Magnolia, AR | 27 of 37 | 379.7 ppb | 12,000 |
| Rapides Parish Waterworks District 3* | Tioga, LA | 6 of 8 | 372.5 ppb | 19,983 |
| James Fork Regional Water District* | Greenwood, AR | 28 of 28 | 353.6 ppb | 11,538 |
| City of Longview* | Longview, TX | 18 of 18 | 348.3 ppb | 80,455 |
| Texarkana Water Utilities* | Texarkana, TX | 12 of 12 | 339.5 ppb | 38,418 |
| South Brunswick Twp W* | Rocky Hill, NJ | 19 of 19 | 331.3 ppb | 45,450 |
| City of Imperial | Imperial, CA | 12 of 14 | 321.6 ppb | 16,145 |
| City of Hollister | Hollister, CA | 4 of 14 | 317.4 ppb | 36,108 |
| New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure* | New Bedford, MA | 3 of 3 | 310.3 ppb | 95,072 |
| Wareham Fire District | Wareham, MA | 12 of 12 | 307.5 ppb | 20,830 |
| Hamilton Water Works and Sewer Board* | Hamilton, AL | 5 of 6 | 290.5 ppb | 10,500 |
| Glendale Waterworks | Glendale, WI | 16 of 16 | 280.6 ppb | 12,883 |
| Whitefish Bay Waterworks | Whitefish Bay, WI | 16 of 16 | 280.6 ppb | 14,272 |
| New York American Water - Merrick | Merrick, NY | 2 of 3 | 275.3 ppb | 177,000 |
| Pawtucket* | Pawtucket, RI | 1 of 1 | 267.0 ppb | 99,200 |
| Gordons Corner Water Company* | Marlboro, NJ | 9 of 12 | 266.8 ppb | 46,196 |
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 1 of 1 | 260.0 ppb | 34,700 |
| Stafford Twp Water - Beach Haven West | Manahawkin, NJ | 5 of 6 | 243.3 ppb | 28,863 |
| Scituate Water Division | Scituate, MA | 21 of 39 | 239.3 ppb | 19,688 |
| North Chicago* | North Chicago, IL | 2 of 2 | 235.0 ppb | 16,813 |
| City of Brenham* | Brenham, TX | 6 of 6 | 227.8 ppb | 15,716 |
| City of Calexico | Calexico, CA | 7 of 7 | 226.9 ppb | 38,572 |
| Cypress Springs SUD N Plant 1 and NE Plant | Mount Vernon, TX | 12 of 12 | 222.5 ppb | 11,232 |
| Weymouth Water Department* | Weymouth, MA | 1 of 2 | 221.0 ppb | 53,925 |
| City of Corcoran | Corcoran, CA | 4 of 11 | 220.0 ppb | 24,813 |
| City of Nacogdoches* | Nacogdoches, TX | 8 of 8 | 219.9 ppb | 48,303 |
| SBDNO County Service Area 64 | Victorville, CA | 2 of 11 | 218.2 ppb | 12,514 |
| City of Martinsville* | Martinsville, VA | 6 of 6 | 209.0 ppb | 13,600 |
| Perry | Perry, GA | 4 of 4 | 206.0 ppb | 28,132 |
| Manchester Twp Water Utility - Western* | Manchester Twp, NJ | 8 of 9 | 204.0 ppb | 15,613 |
* 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 Aluminum, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.