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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Hilo

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Hawaii Department of Health, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 - March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility Details

  • Hilo, Hawaii
  • Serves: 39,477
  • Data available: 2013-2019*
  • Source: Groundwater
  • * 2013 testing is for chemicals in EPA's Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR-3) only.

Contaminants Detected

3

EXCEED
EWG HEALTH
GUIDELINES

14 Total Contaminants

  • Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
  • Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
  • The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.

Legal ≠ Safe

EWG Health Guidelines fill the gap in outdated government standards.

The federal government’s legal limits are not health-protective. The EPA has not set a new tap water standard in almost 20 years, and some standards are more than 40 years old.

Contaminants Detected

Chromium (hexavalent)

Potential Effect: cancer51x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY1.02 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.02 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Chromium (hexavalent)

more about
this contaminant

Chromium (hexavalent) is a carcinogen that commonly contaminates American drinking water. Chromium (hexavalent) in drinking water may be due to industrial pollution or natural occurrences in mineral deposits and groundwater. Read more about chromium (hexavalent).

Chromium (hexavalent) was found at 51 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.02 ppb or less

This Utility

1.02 ppb

National Average

0.484 ppb

State Average

1.66 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2013-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.02 ppb for chromium (hexavalent) 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.

Pollution Sources

industry icon

Industry

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Nitrate

Potential Effect: cancer2.6x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.364 ppm
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.14 ppm
LEGAL LIMIT10 ppm
DETAILS
X

Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.

Nitrate was found at 2.6 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.14 ppm or less

This Utility

0.364 ppm

Legal Limit

10 ppm

National Average

0.935 ppm

State Average

1.02 ppm
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppm = parts per million

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.

Pollution Sources

agriculture icon

Agriculture

urban area icon

Runoff & Sprawl

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Nitrate and nitrite

Potential Effect: cancer2.5x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.357 ppm
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.14 ppm
LEGAL LIMIT10 ppm
DETAILS
X

Nitrate and nitrite

more about
this contaminant

Nitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, septic tanks and urban runoff. These contaminants can cause oxygen deprivation for infants and increase the risk of cancer. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Click here to read more about nitrate.

Nitrate and nitrite was found at 2.5 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.14 ppm or less

This Utility

0.357 ppm

Legal Limit

10 ppm

National Average

0.888 ppm

State Average

1.04 ppm
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppm = parts per million

Health Risks

The health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.

Pollution Sources

agriculture icon

Agriculture

urban area icon

Runoff & Sprawl

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Includes chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; chemicals detected under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3) program in 2013 to 2015 (and subsequent testing when available), for which annual utility averages exceeded a health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority.


Other Contaminants Tested


Chemicals tested for but not detected from 2014 to 2019:

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane , 1,1,1-Trichloroethane , 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane , 1,1,2-Trichloroethane , 1,1-Dichloroethane , 1,1-Dichloroethylene , 1,1-Dichloropropene , 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene , 1,2,3-Trichloropropane , 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene , 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene , 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) , 1,2-Dichloroethane , 1,2-Dichloropropane , 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene , 1,3-Butadiene , 1,3-Dichloropropane , 1,3-Dichloropropene , 1,4-Dioxane , 1-butanol , 2,2-Dichloropropane , 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin) , 2,4,5-T , 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) , 2,4-D , 2,4-DB , 2-methoxyethanol , 2-propen-1-ol , 3-Hydroxycarbofuran , Alachlor (Lasso) , Aldicarb , Aldicarb sulfone , Aldicarb sulfoxide , Aldrin , Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane , Antimony , Arsenic , Asbestos , Atrazine , Barium , Baygon (Propoxur) , Bentazon (Basagran) , Benzene , Benzo[a]pyrene , Beryllium , Bromobenzene , Bromochloromethane , Bromomethane , Butachlor , Butylated hydroxyanisole , Cadmium , Carbaryl , Carbofuran , Carbon tetrachloride , Chlorate , Chlordane , Chlorodifluoromethane , Chloroethane , Chloroform , Chloromethane , Chlorpyriphos , cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene , Cobalt , Combined uranium , Cyanide , Dalapon , DCPA mono- and di-acid degradates , Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate , Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate , Dibromoacetic acid , Dibromomethane , Dicamba , Dichloroacetic acid , Dichlorodifluoromethane , Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) , Dichlorprop , Dieldrin , Dimethipin , Dinoseb , Diquat , Endothall , Endrin , Ethoprop , Ethylbenzene , Ethylene dibromide , Germanium , Glyphosate , Haloacetic acids (HAA9) , Heptachlor , Heptachlor epoxide , Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) , Hexachlorocyclopentadiene , Isopropylbenzene , Lindane , m-Dichlorobenzene , Manganese , Mercury (inorganic) , Methiocarb , Methomyl , Methoxychlor , Metolachlor , Metribuzin , Molinate , Monobromoacetic acid , Monochloroacetic acid , Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene) , n-Butylbenzene , n-Propylbenzene , Nitrite , o-Chlorotoluene , o-Dichlorobenzene , o-toluidine , Oxamyl (Vydate) , Oxyflurofen , p-Chlorotoluene , p-Dichlorobenzene , p-Isopropyltoluene , Paraquat , Pentachlorophenol , Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) , Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) , Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) , Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) , Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) , Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) , Permethrin , Picloram , Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) , Profenofos , Propachlor , Quinoline , Radium, combined (-226 & -228) , sec-Butylbenzene , Selenium , Simazine , Styrene , Tebuconazole , tert-Butylbenzene , Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) , Thallium , Thiobencarb , Toluene , Toxaphene , trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene , Tribufos , Trichloroethylene , Trichlorofluoromethane , Vinyl chloride , Xylenes (total)

Hilo compliance with legally mandated federal standards:

  • From April 2019 to March 2021, Hilo complied with health-based drinking water standards.

Information in this section on Hilo comes from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online database (ECHO).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS UTILITY

Water Filters That Can Reduce Contaminant Levels

ContaminantActivated Carbonactivated carbonReverse Osmosisreverse osmosisIon Exchangeion exchange
CONTAMINANTS ABOVE
HEALTH GUIDELINES
Chromium (hexavalent)
Nitrate
Nitrate & nitrite
OTHER CONTAMINANTS
DETECTED
Bromodichloromethane
Bromoform
Chromium (total)
Dibromochloromethane
Fluoride
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Molybdenum
Strontium
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Trichloroacetic acid
Vanadium

Take Action

Contact Your Local Official

One of the best ways to push for cleaner water is to hold accountable the elected officials who have a say in water quality – from city hall and the state legislature to Congress all the way to the Oval Office – by asking questions and demanding answers.

LEARN MORE

Filter Out Contaminants

Check out our recommendations for filters to protect your water against the detected contaminants.

EWG’S WATER FILTER GUIDE