Monochloroacetic acid
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Monochloroacetic 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
45
states detected
8,968
utilities detected
143 million
people served
1
states over health guideline
5
utilities over health guideline
11,656
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for monochloroacetic acid
Change to fetal growth and development
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 53 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 53 ppb for monochloroacetic 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 system toxicity.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting monochloroacetic acid in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 1,747 | 23,113,507 | |||
| California | 0 | 0 | 433 | 18,314,329 | |||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 545 | 15,570,259 | |||
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 509 | 8,216,421 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 11,656 | 325 | 7,052,758 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 223 | 6,252,501 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 294 | 5,387,332 | |||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 292 | 5,362,931 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 196 | 5,106,286 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 136 | 5,066,809 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 177 | 4,712,684 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 375 | 4,573,821 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 133 | 3,251,076 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 451 | 3,103,204 | |||
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 322 | 2,698,426 | |||
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2,555,279 | |||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 70 | 2,166,749 | |||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2,097,037 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 258 | 1,970,690 | |||
| Mississippi | 0 | 0 | 403 | 1,909,684 | |||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 397 | 1,791,431 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 95 | 1,498,803 | |||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 72 | 1,430,854 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 52 | 1,426,905 | |||
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 400 | 1,395,543 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 196 | 1,328,629 | |||
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 283 | 1,179,871 | |||
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 11 | 803,493 | |||
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 34 | 766,703 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 27 | 566,604 | |||
| North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 111 | 435,212 | |||
| Montana | 0 | 0 | 89 | 346,981 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 22 | 330,897 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 25 | 219,489 | |||
| Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 59 | 209,617 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 31 | 205,081 | |||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 27 | 180,157 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 21 | 88,277 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 46 | 79,047 | |||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 9 | 75,283 | |||
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70,859 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 2 | 27,600 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13,179 | |||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7,229 | |||
| South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 1 | 450 | |||
MORE
LESS
Filtering technologies that reduce monochloroacetic acid
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of monochloroacetic acid, 2017-2019
ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milford Township Municipal Authority | Rockwood, PA | 1 of 1 | 42.0 ppb | 75 |
| Indian Lake Borough Waterworks | Central City, PA | 1 of 2 | 36.5 ppb | 1,246 |
| Petroleum Valley RWA* | Petrolia, PA | 1 of 3 | 33.3 ppb | 2,500 |
| Severy, City of | Severy, KS | 19 of 22 | 31.9 ppb | 230 |
| Northern Cambria Municipal Water | Northern Cambria, PA | 1 of 2 | 29.5 ppb | 4,500 |
| Newburgh Consolidated WD* | Newburgh, NY | 1 of 1 | 29.0 ppb | 26,313 |
| Berlin Borough Municipal Authority | Berlin, PA | 1 of 2 | 27.5 ppb | 2,450 |
| Meyersdale Municipal Authority | Meyersdale, PA | 2 of 7 | 26.3 ppb | 3,019 |
| Middletown City* | Middletown, NY | 1 of 1 | 26.0 ppb | 30,850 |
| Wawayanda Wd #1 | Slate Hill, NY | 1 of 1 | 26.0 ppb | 850 |
| Fairchance Borough Water Department | Fairchance, PA | 2 of 7 | 25.4 ppb | 2,174 |
| Indiana Municipal Services Municipal Cherrytre | Indiana, PA | 7 of 12 | 25.2 ppb | 400 |
| Onalaska Waterworks | Onalaska, WI | 14 of 14 | 25.1 ppb | 18,000 |
| Linwood, City of | Linwood, KS | 19 of 19 | 24.0 ppb | 391 |
| Seneca Sanitary District No 1 | Seneca, WI | 6 of 6 | 23.7 ppb | 250 |
| Croyle Township Water Authority | Summerhill, PA | 5 of 10 | 23.7 ppb | 950 |
| Cresson Township Municipal Authority | Cresson, PA | 1 of 2 | 23.5 ppb | 2,500 |
| Countryside Apartments | Millbrook, NY | 1 of 2 | 21.5 ppb | 30 |
| Indiana Municipal Services Authority-rossiter | Indiana, PA | 2 of 6 | 21.3 ppb | 500 |
| South Hatfield Trailer Court | Pearland, TX | 1 of 1 | 21.2 ppb | 129 |
| Town of Smithville | Smithville, MS | 1 of 3 | 20.0 ppb | 1,816 |
| Huston Township Municipal Authority | Penfield, PA | 1 of 6 | 20.0 ppb | 960 |
| Adams Township Water Authority | Salix, PA | 2 of 5 | 18.2 ppb | 2,000 |
| Flint Creek Utility Association | Wiggins, MS | 1 of 1 | 18.0 ppb | 329 |
| Stone Utility Association | Lumberton, MS | 1 of 1 | 18.0 ppb | 2,000 |
| Peu/hardwood Hts Birch Hill | Merrimack, NH | 2 of 4 | 18.0 ppb | 100 |
| Southwestern Cambria County Authority | Johnstown, PA | 7 of 12 | 17.9 ppb | 4,400 |
| Garrison Water Supply | Traer, IA | 4 of 7 | 17.6 ppb | 371 |
| Mountain View Water System | La Vale, WV | 1 of 2 | 17.4 ppb | 132 |
| Advantage Treatment Ctr | Sterling, CO | 1 of 1 | 17.3 ppb | 165 |
| Peu/lamplighter Village | Merrimack, NH | 1 of 1 | 17.1 ppb | 162 |
| Icmsa Crooked Creek | Indiana, PA | 3 of 11 | 16.3 ppb | 9,638 |
| Hays Creek W/a - Alva | Winona, MS | 3 of 3 | 16.3 ppb | 695 |
| Ashton Municipal Water Department | Ashton, IA | 2 of 2 | 16.2 ppb | 468 |
| Oliver Waterworks | Superior, WI | 2 of 2 | 15.7 ppb | 120 |
| Table Mound Park | Dubuque, IA | 4 of 5 | 15.5 ppb | 455 |
| City of Flowood - Noranco | Flowood, MS | 2 of 2 | 15.5 ppb | 3,837 |
| Crotched Mountain Mntnc | Merrimack, NH | 1 of 5 | 15.4 ppb | 115 |
| Lakeside Mobile Home Park | Elizabethtown, PA | 1 of 1 | 15.2 ppb | 40 |
| Little Rock Water Supply | Little Rock, IA | 2 of 2 | 14.7 ppb | 461 |
| Campbellsport Waterworks | Campbellsport, WI | 5 of 6 | 14.4 ppb | 2,016 |
| Genoa City Waterworks | Genoa City, WI | 6 of 6 | 14.0 ppb | 2,766 |
| East Taylor Municipal Authority | Johnstown, PA | 7 of 11 | 13.9 ppb | 3,152 |
| Osseo Waterworks | Osseo, WI | 6 of 6 | 13.6 ppb | 1,701 |
| Highland S & W Authority Beaverdam* | Johnstown, PA | 12 of 28 | 13.3 ppb | 23,140 |
| Edgar Waterworks | Edgar, WI | 6 of 6 | 13.2 ppb | 1,491 |
| Cassville Waterworks | Cassville, WI | 5 of 6 | 13.1 ppb | 1,052 |
| Klondike Independent School District | Lamesa, TX | 6 of 16 | 13.1 ppb | 264 |
| Town of Artesia | Artesia, MS | 1 of 1 | 13.0 ppb | 396 |
| Edgemont Ranch Md | Durango, CO | 1 of 1 | 12.9 ppb | 1,200 |
* 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 Monochloroacetic acid, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newburgh Consolidated WD* | Newburgh, NY | 1 of 1 | 29.0 ppb | 26,313 |
| Middletown City* | Middletown, NY | 1 of 1 | 26.0 ppb | 30,850 |
| Onalaska Waterworks | Onalaska, WI | 14 of 14 | 25.1 ppb | 18,000 |
| Highland S & W Authority Beaverdam* | Johnstown, PA | 12 of 28 | 13.3 ppb | 23,140 |
| La Crosse Waterworks | La Crosse, WI | 11 of 12 | 10.6 ppb | 53,000 |
| Greater Johnstown Wa Riverside* | Johnstown, PA | 13 of 24 | 8.36 ppb | 49,500 |
| City of Blythe | Blythe, CA | 33 of 88 | 7.69 ppb | 12,155 |
| City of Calexico | Calexico, CA | 30 of 69 | 7.61 ppb | 38,572 |
| Poweshiek Water Association* | Tama, IA | 51 of 76 | 6.17 ppb | 18,836 |
| Culkin Water District | Vicksburg, MS | 70 of 88 | 5.39 ppb | 11,135 |
| Ottumwa Water Works* | Ottumwa, IA | 79 of 96 | 5.28 ppb | 25,023 |
| Spring Lake Water Department | Spring Lake Heights, NJ | 39 of 48 | 5.10 ppb | 11,270 |
| Naval Station Washington - WNY | Washington Navy Yard, DC | 1 of 1 | 5.10 ppb | 15,690 |
| Rainbow Municipal WD | Fallbrook, CA | 38 of 88 | 4.88 ppb | 19,611 |
| Portsmouth Water & Fire District | Portsmouth, RI | 34 of 40 | 4.82 ppb | 16,864 |
| Beaver Dam Water Utility | Beaver Dam, WI | 36 of 44 | 4.68 ppb | 16,200 |
| Eastern Municipal Water District* | Perris, CA | 139 of 394 | 4.54 ppb | 512,711 |
| City of Brawley | Brawley, CA | 23 of 80 | 4.44 ppb | 51,793 |
| JBMDL-Dix Main System | Joint Base Mdl, NJ | 78 of 100 | 4.38 ppb | 12,765 |
| Plum Boro Municipal Authority* | Pittsburgh, PA | 17 of 20 | 3.94 ppb | 27,500 |
| Gahanna City PWS | Gahanna, OH | 92 of 92 | 3.80 ppb | 33,323 |
| La Verne WD | La Verne, CA | 30 of 84 | 3.78 ppb | 32,230 |
| Red Bank Water Department | Red Bank, NJ | 71 of 96 | 3.68 ppb | 12,520 |
| City of Eureka | Eureka, CA | 2 of 3 | 3.53 ppb | 28,344 |
| McKinleyville CSD | Mckinleyville, CA | 2 of 3 | 3.53 ppb | 15,132 |
| Humboldt Bay MWD* | Eureka, CA | 2 of 3 | 3.53 ppb | 80,000 |
| Joint Base Anacostia - Bolling | Washington, DC | 1 of 1 | 3.50 ppb | 16,559 |
| City of Tupelo | Tupelo, MS | 25 of 62 | 3.50 ppb | 35,000 |
| Marlborough DPW Water Div. (MWRA) | Marlborough, MA | 8 of 8 | 3.47 ppb | 38,499 |
| Lewisburg* | Lewisburg, WV | 83 of 107 | 3.42 ppb | 10,057 |
| Columbus Public Water System* | Columbus, OH | 356 of 368 | 3.41 ppb | 1,159,817 |
| Reynoldsburg City PWS | Reynoldsburg, OH | 87 of 92 | 3.35 ppb | 35,893 |
| Pella Water Works Department | Pella, IA | 56 of 72 | 3.33 ppb | 10,352 |
| Havelock Water System* | Havelock, NC | 21 of 22 | 3.30 ppb | 14,246 |
| City of Vicksburg* | Vicksburg, MS | 10 of 20 | 3.25 ppb | 29,430 |
| City of Seal Beach | Seal Beach, CA | 9 of 74 | 3.18 ppb | 24,157 |
| Massena Village | Massena, NY | 35 of 85 | 3.16 ppb | 15,387 |
| Bangor Water District* | Bangor, ME | 81 of 96 | 3.12 ppb | 26,868 |
| East Brunswick Water Utility* | East Brunswick Twp, NJ | 86 of 92 | 3.10 ppb | 48,474 |
| Lacey Twp MUA | Forked River, NJ | 65 of 96 | 3.05 ppb | 26,240 |
| City of Newport* | Newport, RI | 23 of 36 | 3.02 ppb | 42,000 |
| West Jefferson Waterworks District 2* | Jefferson, LA | 1040 of 1,136 | 3.02 ppb | 188,770 |
| East Jefferson Waterworks District 1 | Jefferson, LA | 1576 of 1,704 | 3.00 ppb | 243,782 |
| Lake Hemet Municipal Water District | Hemet, CA | 10 of 24 | 2.99 ppb | 50,001 |
| Beachwood Water Department | Beachwood, NJ | 59 of 96 | 2.96 ppb | 10,802 |
| City of Hereford | Hereford, TX | 49 of 96 | 2.95 ppb | 15,370 |
| City of Jackson | Jackson, MS | 80 of 175 | 2.88 ppb | 156,959 |
| Shorelands Water Company Inc.* | Colts Neck, NJ | 51 of 97 | 2.88 ppb | 36,164 |
| Bexley City PWS | Bexley, OH | 88 of 92 | 2.83 ppb | 13,650 |
| Regional Water Authority* | New Haven, CT | 230 of 240 | 2.82 ppb | 418,900 |
* 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 Monochloroacetic acid, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.