Cobalt
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Cobalt is a metal found throughout the environment; people may be exposed to cobalt in air, food and drinking water.
2013-2019:
FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES
34
states detected
393
utilities detected
16 million
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for cobalt
Harm to the heart
Change in blood chemistry
Harm to the stomach and intestines
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 70 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 70 ppb for cobalt was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a benchmark for testing under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule program. This health guideline protects against change in blood chemistry.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting cobalt in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Texas | 79 | 4,803,896 | |
| New York | 35 | 2,449,778 | |
| New Jersey | 48 | 1,800,844 | |
| California | 27 | 1,206,454 | |
| Arizona | 10 | 837,960 | |
| Louisiana | 6 | 605,263 | |
| Florida | 15 | 487,847 | |
| Delaware | 6 | 379,608 | |
| Massachusetts | 19 | 358,086 | |
| Wisconsin | 11 | 344,555 | |
| North Carolina | 30 | 343,266 | |
| Maryland | 5 | 334,421 | |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | 287,381 | |
| Illinois | 11 | 274,934 | |
| Georgia | 11 | 273,777 | |
| Idaho | 4 | 245,105 | |
| Minnesota | 8 | 204,070 | |
| Iowa | 6 | 168,248 | |
| Alabama | 12 | 167,511 | |
| Virginia | 3 | 155,515 | |
| Colorado | 4 | 131,175 | |
| Michigan | 2 | 86,234 | |
| Tennessee | 2 | 79,866 | |
| Missouri | 4 | 73,264 | |
| New Mexico | 3 | 72,805 | |
| South Carolina | 6 | 50,338 | |
| Oregon | 1 | 46,228 | |
| Kentucky | 3 | 39,705 | |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 37,070 | |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 27,993 | |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 25,955 | |
| Nebraska | 2 | 25,570 | |
| Mississippi | 2 | 17,408 | |
| Nevada | 1 | 15,830 | |
MORE
LESS
Filtering technologies that reduce cobalt
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Utilities with the highest amounts of cobalt, 2013-2019
ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldsboro Water Department | Fieldsboro, NJ | 3 of 3 | 15.8 ppb | 650 |
| Bordentown Water Departm* | Bordentown, NJ | 3 of 3 | 15.8 ppb | 15,821 |
| Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau, MO | 1 of 8 | 11.7 ppb | 39,628 |
| Franklin Square WD | Franklin Square, NY | 4 of 8 | 11.3 ppb | 20,000 |
| South Brunswick Twp W* | Rocky Hill, NJ | 4 of 16 | 6.71 ppb | 45,450 |
| The Orchard Development | Savannah, GA | 4 of 8 | 3.90 ppb | 639 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 9 of 24 | 3.84 ppb | 81,760 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 9 of 24 | 3.34 ppb | 48,000 |
| Bridgewater Water Department | Bridgewater, MA | 12 of 16 | 3.14 ppb | 26,563 |
| Cottage Grove | Cottage Grove, MN | 6 of 8 | 3.03 ppb | 36,900 |
| Whittier Water Department* | Whittier, CA | 4 of 4 | 2.55 ppb | 49,954 |
| Houston County - Feagin Mill* | Warner Robbins, GA | 6 of 8 | 2.38 ppb | 73,592 |
| Merchantville Pennsauken | Pennsauken, NJ | 2 of 18 | 2.16 ppb | 47,144 |
| Bennettsville, City of* | Bennettsville, SC | 6 of 12 | 1.97 ppb | 9,070 |
| NJ American Water - Atlantic County | Egg Harbor, NJ | 18 of 26 | 1.95 ppb | 120,146 |
| Bethpage WD | Bethpage, NY | 9 of 12 | 1.92 ppb | 33,000 |
| New York American Water - Merrick | Merrick, NY | 13 of 20 | 1.88 ppb | 177,000 |
| Town of Hempstead Water Department | East Meadow, NY | 24 of 36 | 1.86 ppb | 110,000 |
| Moscow Water Department | Moscow, ID | 2 of 20 | 1.86 ppb | 24,499 |
| East Windsor MUA | East Windsor Township, NJ | 3 of 12 | 1.84 ppb | 25,000 |
| New York American Water - Lynbrook | Merrick, NY | 31 of 50 | 1.83 ppb | 220,000 |
| Glen Burnie-Broadneck | Millersville, MD | 11 of 24 | 1.81 ppb | 290,606 |
| Bridgeton City Water Department | Bridgeton, NJ | 7 of 7 | 1.78 ppb | 22,770 |
| Aqua NJ - Hamilton Square* | Hamilton, NJ | 8 of 18 | 1.76 ppb | 39,128 |
| Brookwood Comm. Water System | Hampstead, NC | 30 of 48 | 1.74 ppb | 15,665 |
| Monroe Township Utility Department | Monroe Township, NJ | 3 of 8 | 1.65 ppb | 33,402 |
| Suburban Water Systems - Whittier | Covina, CA | 6 of 8 | 1.64 ppb | 59,169 |
| Oatman Water Company | Scottsdale, AZ | 4 of 4 | 1.63 ppb | 280 |
| Massapequa WD | Massapequa, NY | 15 of 20 | 1.61 ppb | 43,000 |
| Eagle Point S/d | Manning, SC | 6 of 6 | 1.60 ppb | 189 |
| Plainview WD | Plainview, NY | 8 of 15 | 1.59 ppb | 35,000 |
| Scotland Co. Water - Barnes Bridge | Laurinburg, NC | 2 of 4 | 1.46 ppb | 584 |
| Scotland Co. Water - Gillis Hill | Laurinburg, NC | 2 of 4 | 1.46 ppb | 965 |
| Scotland County Water-south* | Laurinburg, NC | 2 of 4 | 1.46 ppb | 1,905 |
| Scotland Co. Water - Malloy Rd | Laurinburg, NC | 2 of 4 | 1.46 ppb | 330 |
| City of Laurinburg* | Laurinburg, NC | 2 of 4 | 1.46 ppb | 18,288 |
| City of Bradenton | Bradenton, FL | 4 of 8 | 1.29 ppb | 54,409 |
| Parker, City of Water System | Parker, FL | 1 of 8 | 1.18 ppb | 3,817 |
| West Escambia Utilities Inc. | Atmore, AL | 3 of 26 | 1.13 ppb | 12,060 |
| Lexie Water Association Inc. | Tylertown, MS | 1 of 2 | 1.10 ppb | 4,145 |
| Willingboro MUA* | Riverside, NJ | 2 of 8 | 1.08 ppb | 35,000 |
| Millville Water Department | Millville, NJ | 6 of 12 | 1.06 ppb | 27,500 |
| Moorestown Water Department | Moorestown, NJ | 2 of 11 | 1.04 ppb | 20,700 |
| Aqua NJ - Eastern Division | Hamilton, NJ | 3 of 6 | 0.967 ppb | 12,000 |
| Carrollton Water Works | Carrollton, AL | 3 of 28 | 0.950 ppb | 1,404 |
| Pickens County Water and F. P. Authority* | Carrollton, AL | 3 of 28 | 0.950 ppb | 14,364 |
| Rockford | Rockford, IL | 14 of 54 | 0.940 ppb | 147,051 |
| Perry | Perry, GA | 2 of 3 | 0.933 ppb | 28,132 |
| Rosemount | Rosemount, MN | 4 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 22,445 |
| Vineland Water & Sewer Utility | Vineland, NJ | 15 of 30 | 0.917 ppb | 36,250 |
* 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 Cobalt, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bordentown Water Departm* | Bordentown, NJ | 3 of 3 | 15.8 ppb | 15,821 |
| Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau, MO | 1 of 8 | 11.7 ppb | 39,628 |
| Franklin Square WD | Franklin Square, NY | 4 of 8 | 11.3 ppb | 20,000 |
| South Brunswick Twp W* | Rocky Hill, NJ | 4 of 16 | 6.71 ppb | 45,450 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 9 of 24 | 3.84 ppb | 81,760 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 9 of 24 | 3.34 ppb | 48,000 |
| Bridgewater Water Department | Bridgewater, MA | 12 of 16 | 3.14 ppb | 26,563 |
| Cottage Grove | Cottage Grove, MN | 6 of 8 | 3.03 ppb | 36,900 |
| Whittier Water Department* | Whittier, CA | 4 of 4 | 2.55 ppb | 49,954 |
| Houston County - Feagin Mill* | Warner Robbins, GA | 6 of 8 | 2.38 ppb | 73,592 |
| Merchantville Pennsauken | Pennsauken, NJ | 2 of 18 | 2.16 ppb | 47,144 |
| NJ American Water - Atlantic County | Egg Harbor, NJ | 18 of 26 | 1.95 ppb | 120,146 |
| Bethpage WD | Bethpage, NY | 9 of 12 | 1.92 ppb | 33,000 |
| New York American Water - Merrick | Merrick, NY | 13 of 20 | 1.88 ppb | 177,000 |
| Town of Hempstead Water Department | East Meadow, NY | 24 of 36 | 1.86 ppb | 110,000 |
| Moscow Water Department | Moscow, ID | 2 of 20 | 1.86 ppb | 24,499 |
| East Windsor MUA | East Windsor Township, NJ | 3 of 12 | 1.84 ppb | 25,000 |
| New York American Water - Lynbrook | Merrick, NY | 31 of 50 | 1.83 ppb | 220,000 |
| Glen Burnie-Broadneck | Millersville, MD | 11 of 24 | 1.81 ppb | 290,606 |
| Bridgeton City Water Department | Bridgeton, NJ | 7 of 7 | 1.78 ppb | 22,770 |
| Aqua NJ - Hamilton Square* | Hamilton, NJ | 8 of 18 | 1.76 ppb | 39,128 |
| Brookwood Comm. Water System | Hampstead, NC | 30 of 48 | 1.74 ppb | 15,665 |
| Monroe Township Utility Department | Monroe Township, NJ | 3 of 8 | 1.65 ppb | 33,402 |
| Suburban Water Systems - Whittier | Covina, CA | 6 of 8 | 1.64 ppb | 59,169 |
| Massapequa WD | Massapequa, NY | 15 of 20 | 1.61 ppb | 43,000 |
| Plainview WD | Plainview, NY | 8 of 15 | 1.59 ppb | 35,000 |
| City of Laurinburg* | Laurinburg, NC | 2 of 4 | 1.46 ppb | 18,288 |
| City of Bradenton | Bradenton, FL | 4 of 8 | 1.29 ppb | 54,409 |
| West Escambia Utilities Inc. | Atmore, AL | 3 of 26 | 1.13 ppb | 12,060 |
| Willingboro MUA* | Riverside, NJ | 2 of 8 | 1.08 ppb | 35,000 |
| Millville Water Department | Millville, NJ | 6 of 12 | 1.06 ppb | 27,500 |
| Moorestown Water Department | Moorestown, NJ | 2 of 11 | 1.04 ppb | 20,700 |
| Aqua NJ - Eastern Division | Hamilton, NJ | 3 of 6 | 0.967 ppb | 12,000 |
| Pickens County Water and F. P. Authority* | Carrollton, AL | 3 of 28 | 0.950 ppb | 14,364 |
| Rockford | Rockford, IL | 14 of 54 | 0.940 ppb | 147,051 |
| Perry | Perry, GA | 2 of 3 | 0.933 ppb | 28,132 |
| Rosemount | Rosemount, MN | 4 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 22,445 |
| Vineland Water & Sewer Utility | Vineland, NJ | 15 of 30 | 0.917 ppb | 36,250 |
| Acton MUD* | Granbury, TX | 16 of 68 | 0.891 ppb | 19,125 |
| Norton Water Department | Norton, MA | 8 of 20 | 0.880 ppb | 19,031 |
| Garden City | Garden City, NY | 5 of 14 | 0.879 ppb | 46,000 |
| Rockville Centre | Rockville Centre, NY | 5 of 10 | 0.830 ppb | 24,700 |
| Barnegat Twp Water Sewer | Barnegat, NJ | 4 of 10 | 0.820 ppb | 20,000 |
| Holley-Navarre Water System* | Navarre, FL | 3 of 16 | 0.819 ppb | 41,567 |
| Perth Amboy Water Department | Perth Amboy, NJ | 4 of 8 | 0.813 ppb | 52,328 |
| Town of Mooresville* | Mooresville, NC | 1 of 12 | 0.783 ppb | 42,611 |
| City of Aberdeen | Aberdeen, MD | 5 of 12 | 0.775 ppb | 16,200 |
| Pico Rivera Water Department | Pico Rivera, CA | 17 of 40 | 0.775 ppb | 39,000 |
| Roslyn WD* | Roslyn, NY | 2 of 15 | 0.773 ppb | 18,000 |
| Lincoln County Board of Public Utilities #1 | Fayetteville, TN | 3 of 32 | 0.753 ppb | 22,196 |
* 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 Cobalt, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.