Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.
EWG Home Skin Deep Database Healthy Living App EWG Verified Open menu

EWG’s Tap
Water Database
Water Contamination Water Filter Guide Consumer Resources News & Insights
TAKE ACTION

CONTAMINANT

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

FOUND

Exceeding guidelines

STATES DETECTED

50

serves

303 million

utilities detected

29,032

states detected

50

serves

301 million

utilities detected

28,853

STATES DETECTED

21

serves

383,000

utilities detected

110

Overview

Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. learn more about this contaminant

Haloacetic acids are harmful during pregnancy and may increase the risk of cancer. Haloacetic acids are� genotoxic, which means that they induce mutations and DNA damage. Multiple studies by the National Toxicology Program have demonstrated the cancer-causing properties of individual haloacetic acids in laboratory animals. The Department of Health and Human Services is currently considering listing di- or tri-haloacetic acids for possible inclusion in its comprehensive Report on Carcinogens.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for the group of five haloacetic acids, or HAA5, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 60 ppb

The legal limit for the group of five haloacetic acids (HAA5), established in 1998, was based on the need for residual disinfectant levels in water served to customers and the cost of treatment. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer and harm to the developing fetus due to exposure to haloacetic acids.

ppb = parts per billion

National Standard Exists

Health Concerns:

  • Cancer

  • Harm to fetal growth and development

Want to remove
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) from your water?

Try these filter technologies:

Activated Carbon, 

Reverse Osmosis, 

understand filter technology

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) around the Country

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State Utilities People Served Utilities People Served
California1,88244,274,1631,88244,274,163
Texas3,24728,812,1003,26928,992,158
Florida1,38220,881,2551,38620,921,776
New York1,54219,472,2811,54819,628,173
Illinois1,62511,978,7021,63112,129,944
Pennsylvania1,06610,946,4141,07310,979,937
Ohio86910,191,70886910,191,708
Georgia6019,381,1366099,436,718
North Carolina1,1988,995,0131,2029,013,080
New Jersey4478,761,7744568,793,111
Washington6557,498,5206567,513,141
Tennessee3367,199,3143377,203,689
Virginia6717,189,3236747,199,825
Michigan6856,998,4306856,998,430
Massachusetts3116,287,9793136,315,296
Colorado7086,271,5627086,271,562
Alabama4535,659,9104665,779,472
Arizona2095,636,7252175,768,973
Louisiana9075,119,9019235,148,182
Maryland2734,998,2762745,028,619
Indiana5695,019,5615715,027,811
Missouri6564,744,1396584,764,675
Kentucky3554,392,4473584,401,748
Minnesota5874,188,2825904,270,883
Wisconsin5443,810,8885503,818,225
South Carolina3323,790,4463343,791,531
Oklahoma6523,443,7356523,443,735
Oregon3383,252,1973413,272,651
Nevada652,939,172672,949,859
Utah1872,812,7891932,891,667
Mississippi8222,737,5868272,841,216
Kansas7302,833,7367312,834,169
Arkansas5592,811,3465602,811,862
Connecticut2192,680,5212202,681,221
Iowa6532,410,9936582,423,580
New Mexico2971,827,5383011,860,104
West Virginia3891,527,9863901,530,161
Nebraska1331,303,4051361,307,398
Hawaii59966,41060978,510
Rhode Island39972,13739972,137
Idaho143938,787147963,902
South Dakota241876,693241876,693
Delaware85816,35585816,355
North Dakota273693,643273693,643
District Of Columbia4667,3254667,325
Montana253581,532259610,790
Maine123598,661124598,724
Wyoming196469,759202481,070
Alaska152459,562152459,562
Vermont131356,463131356,463

Utilities with the highest amounts of haloacetic acids (HAA5), 2021-2023

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
Utility Location Tests Average level People served
Lowndes County-alapaha Plantation S/dValdosta, GA23 of 23195.7 ppb296
Echols County Water AuthorityStatenville, GA4 of 4194.1 ppb972
Cricket Hill ApartmentsMathews, VA1 of 1171.0 ppb88
Village of Sikes Water SystemSikes, LA24 of 24148.2 ppb639
Vallenar View Mobile Home ParkSacramento, AK12 of 12127.6 ppb225
Asher Utility Dev AuthorityAsher, OK12 of 12126.8 ppb375
Wanette Public Works AuthorityWanette, OK10 of 12119.9 ppb402
Fairview Union Water System*Coushatta, LA22 of 22118.9 ppb2,346
Sierra Country ClubCoupeville, WA2 of 2117.6 ppb355
Bellwood Water SystemProvencal, LA23 of 23117.0 ppb1,032
Orient Water CompanyRepublic, WA9 of 9113.4 ppb167
Vixen Water SystemChatham, LA24 of 24108.9 ppb774
Tatitlek Water SystemTatitlek, AK6 of 6108.7 ppb95
MaysvilleMaysville, OK22 of 2399.1 ppb1,212
PittsburgPittsburg, OK13 of 1398.1 ppb280
Lakewood Water SystemHuntington, TX12 of 1298.0 ppb42
City of HuxleyShelbyville, TX24 of 2497.5 ppb1,930
Meadows Mennonite HomeChenoa, IL2 of 297.0 ppb140
Red Gate Mobile Home ParkShelton, WA12 of 1296.5 ppb25
West Winn Water System Inc.Winnfield, LA24 of 2494.9 ppb2,064
Rensselaerville Water DistrictMedusa, NY20 of 2192.6 ppb200
Grayhorse Rural Water DistrictFairfax, OK11 of 1192.5 ppb100
Forest Water Supply CorporationWells, TX23 of 2392.1 ppb561
River Bend Water ServicesMatagorda, TX12 of 1291.8 ppb100
Avant Utilities AuthorityAvant, OK12 of 1290.7 ppb361
Corbett Community CorporationDownsville, NY2 of 289.2 ppb93
Town of Tullos Water SystemTullos, LA24 of 2488.3 ppb792
Colorado City MdColorado City, CO34 of 3487.9 ppb2,175
Spring Point Homeowners AssociationDeer Harbor, WA12 of 1287.3 ppb108
Vallecitos Mutual Domestic Water Consumers AssociationVallecitos, NM4 of 486.5 ppb84
Swisshome VillageMapleton, OR16 of 1785.8 ppb24
Hidden Acres EstatesLorida, FL9 of 984.6 ppb146
Indiana Municipal Services Authority-rossiterIndiana, PA13 of 1384.6 ppb500
Dixon, Town OfDixon, WY13 of 1381.9 ppb97
Boynton Public Works Authority*Boynton, OK10 of 1081.2 ppb450
West Carthage VillageWest Carthage, NY8 of 880.9 ppb1,734
Parker Area Water AuthorityParker, PA24 of 2479.5 ppb900
Wagoner County Rural Water District #2Wagoner, OK4 of 479.5 ppb2,000
Nunapitchuk Water SystemNunapitchuk, AK4 of 479.4 ppb496
TamoshanOlympia, WA12 of 1279.3 ppb260
Timken, City ofTimken, KS2 of 279.0 ppb39
Galena Wtp1 - CityGalena, AK11 of 1377.9 ppb470
Cannon Creek Mobile Home ParkLake City, FL1 of 177.6 ppb80
El Camino Bay Water SystemHemphill, TX11 of 1177.3 ppb280
Brenton PsdBrenton, WV8 of 1077.0 ppb241
Florida Village*Florida, NY45 of 4576.4 ppb4,585
Salmon, City ofSalmon, ID15 of 1576.3 ppb3,158
KlawockKlawock, AK12 of 1275.8 ppb854
Carthage Village*Carthage, NY25 of 2574.9 ppb5,574
Suwannee Valley EstatesLake City, FL11 of 1274.5 ppb75

* 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 Haloacetic acids (HAA5), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Springfield Water and Sewer Commission*Springfield, MA189 of 18968.5 ppb230,331
West Springfield Dpw Water DivisionWest Springfield, MA189 of 18968.5 ppb28,391
Woodlawn Utility DistrictWoodlawn, TN33 of 3356.0 ppb12,069
Lowndes County-north Lowndes County WsValdosta, GA41 of 4154.3 ppb12,473
Kensico Water DistrictValhalla, NY48 of 4854.0 ppb17,917
Muhlenberg County Water District*Greenville, KY47 of 4750.8 ppb16,845
Claremore*Claremore, OK64 of 6450.6 ppb15,873
Rutland City Water Department*Proctor, VT48 of 4850.5 ppb18,500
Bath County Water District*Salt Lick, KY32 of 3250.5 ppb10,083
Southern Madison Water District*Berea, KY54 of 5450.3 ppb14,707
Agawam Water DepartmentAgawam, MA45 of 4849.6 ppb28,849
Rogers County Rural Water District # 3 Lake PlantClaremore, OK24 of 2449.4 ppb10,470
Albany Water Works*Albany, KY48 of 4849.2 ppb14,702
Hamlet Water System*Hamlet, NC48 of 4848.3 ppb10,289
Pvia*Wister, OK36 of 3648.1 ppb40,000
Baldwin County*Milledgeville, GA46 of 4747.3 ppb23,067
Haralson County Water Auth.*Buchanan, GA30 of 3047.3 ppb12,220
Blountville UDBlountville, TN52 of 5246.8 ppb15,234
City of Winchester*Winchester, VA48 of 4846.5 ppb28,248
Okmulgee*Okmulgee, OK48 of 4846.0 ppb13,495
South Blount Utility District*Maryville, TN85 of 8545.9 ppb50,648
Pa-american Water Co-connellsvUniontown, PA60 of 6045.6 ppb11,425
Dayton Water DepartmentDayton, TN54 of 5445.5 ppb23,660
Sandy, City of*Sandy, OR61 of 6145.4 ppb12,991
Lewisburg*Lewisburg, WV53 of 5345.3 ppb10,057
Toccoa*Toccoa, GA43 of 4445.1 ppb24,960
Auburn*Auburn, GA24 of 2445.0 ppb10,060
Capital Region WaterHarrisburg, PA103 of 10345.0 ppb66,540
City of LauderhillLauderhill, FL66 of 6644.9 ppb55,000
City Of Jackson-maddox Rd.Jackson, MS44 of 4444.7 ppb15,212
Bardstown Municipal Water Department*Bardstown, KY48 of 4844.7 ppb31,185
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County - Yough Plant*Greensburg, PA96 of 9644.7 ppb140,000
Tarrytown Water SupplyTarrytown, NY48 of 4844.6 ppb11,000
Southbridge Water DepartmentSouthbridge, MA59 of 5944.6 ppb15,287
Villa RicaVilla Rica, GA22 of 2244.5 ppb15,667
Wilderness WTPRuckersville, VA49 of 4944.3 ppb12,856
East Feliciana Rural Water*Ethel, LA24 of 2444.3 ppb14,829
Ohio County Water District*Hartford, KY57 of 5744.1 ppb16,511
Plattsburgh CityPlattsburgh, NY48 of 4844.0 ppb24,908
Northampton Boro Municipal Authority*Northampton, PA57 of 5743.7 ppb40,000
East Bay Municipal Utility District*Oakland, CA3 of 343.7 ppb1,430,200
McAlester PWA*Mcalester, OK48 of 4843.6 ppb18,206
Waterbury Water Department*Waterbury, CT96 of 9643.4 ppb107,271
Muskogee*Muskogee, OK144 of 14443.4 ppb38,310
Bolivar Peninsula SUDCrystal Beach, TX52 of 5243.4 ppb19,476
White Plains City*White Plains, NY95 of 9543.3 ppb59,353
Bethlehem Water District No. 1*Delmar, NY46 of 4743.3 ppb62,062
Mt Sterling Water Works*Mt Sterling, KY47 of 4742.9 ppb16,391
Broward County Water and Wastewater Services (BCWWS) - 1ALauderdale Lakes, FL60 of 6042.6 ppb75,305
Belle Chasse Water DistrictBelle Chasse, LA48 of 4842.6 ppb19,644

* 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 Haloacetic acids (HAA5), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

Know the Standards

Understand EWG’s guidelines on contaminants in your water.

view ewg’s standards

Take Action

Interested in supporting other causes? Learn more about our ongoing campaigns and how you can make a difference.

LEARN MORE

Need help finding a filter?

Discover top-rated filters that protect your family from harmful contaminants.

GET THE GUIDE

We’re in this together

Donate today and join the fight to protect our environmental health.

DONATE TODAY

Protect your water

Sign our petition to protect PFAS drinking water standards

TAKE ACTION