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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Selenium is an essential element in diets. But too much selenium can decrease thyroid hormone production and cause hair loss, skin lesions and brittle fingernails.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

49

states detected

5,930

utilities detected

56 million

people served

11

states over health guideline

56

utilities over health guideline

34,231

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for selenium

Hormone disruption

Harm to child development

Harm to the brain and nervous system

Skin damage

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 30 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 30 ppb for selenium 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 hair loss and nail damage.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 50 ppb

The legal limit for selenium, established in 1991, was based on human epidemiological studies of populations exposed to naturally occurring selenium in drinking water. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting selenium in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Texas1713,8391,0159,655,632
Florida003617,092,257
California133,1643856,300,816
Colorado51,7325174,199,116
Utah003523,055,513
Arizona00912,985,476
Kansas91,7646872,574,134
Missouri00722,551,868
Nevada1110602,284,382
New Jersey00942,019,987
Illinois002551,417,366
New York001951,317,744
Louisiana00781,261,977
Nebraska611,3552141,074,476
Oklahoma162756981,815
Hawaii007949,743
Virginia0031791,065
New Mexico1456172668,095
Wisconsin00171638,838
Delaware0035532,186
Kentucky0077505,306
Pennsylvania0094317,199
Alabama0023279,474
Indiana14747248,109
Alaska0010244,212
Mississippi0090237,500
Idaho00112208,525
South Dakota0019181,010
Washington00176179,542
Wyoming0070174,157
Michigan0039164,433
Connecticut0011119,036
Montana006699,896
West Virginia003898,281
Minnesota00483,865
South Carolina001382,507
Georgia18711180,916
Iowa12662279,295
Rhode Island00778,777
Tennessee00649,425
Ohio002246,781
Arkansas001240,276
Maryland001640,017
North Dakota005934,219
New Hampshire00726,545
Oregon001923,874
North Carolina00415,844
Massachusetts0047,938
Maine0041,368
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce selenium

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of selenium, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Valley EstatesShallowater, TX11 of 11107.8 ppb70
Alpine Springs Mobile Home ParkPalmdale, CA1 of 281.0 ppb120
Vista Hills Mutual Water CompanyLompoc, CA3 of 578.0 ppb75
Resthaven Mobile Home ParkPaso Robles, CA45 of 4571.5 ppb75
Heartland HouseLubbock, TX20 of 2264.8 ppb26
Leisure Mountain Mobile Home ParkTijeras, NM16 of 1663.1 ppb172
Dedham Water SupplyDedham, IA13 of 1356.2 ppb266
Firth, Village ofFirth, NE1 of 156.0 ppb600
Burr Oak, City ofBurr Oak, KS15 of 1555.5 ppb159
Fullerton, City ofFullerton, NE23 of 2354.0 ppb1,352
Beverly, City ofBeverly, KS6 of 853.4 ppb148
Town North Village Water SystemLubbock, TX48 of 4851.4 ppb360
Glen Elder, City ofGlen Elder, KS26 of 2651.0 ppb433
U.s.n., San Nicolas IslandPoint Mugu, CA9 of 1050.7 ppb250
Falfurrias Utility BoardFalfurrias, TX31 of 3148.9 ppb7,500
Ken Mar GardensArroyo Grande, CA5 of 548.8 ppb84
Wayne, City ofWayne, NE9 of 948.5 ppb5,660
Rosa Joint Ventures Water SystemIgnacio, NM15 of 1547.9 ppb456
Pecan Grove Mobile Home ParkSan Antonio, TX3 of 347.0 ppb81
Rooks County Rural Water District 1Woodston, KS2 of 246.0 ppb55
Sky Ranch EstatesSandy Valley, NV7 of 745.2 ppb110
Gove, City ofGove, KS6 of 644.8 ppb70
Asgard Subdivision WaSilt, CO26 of 2644.8 ppb80
Town North EstatesLubbock, TX17 of 1741.4 ppb216
Prairie View Ranch WDGreeley, CO4 of 441.0 ppb30
Texas Boys RanchLubbock, TX1 of 140.0 ppb50
Hordville, Village ofHordville, NE1 of 139.8 ppb162
Rio Manor Mutual Water CompanyOxnard, CA4 of 439.5 ppb900
Boone, Town ofBoone, CO2 of 239.0 ppb350
Maple Water Supply CorporationMorton, TX2 of 237.5 ppb50
City of New HomeNew Home, TX2 of 237.0 ppb345
Sutter County Wwd #1 (robbins)Yuba City, CA1 of 336.7 ppb350
South Mountain Mutual Water CompanySanta Paula, CA13 of 1336.5 ppb45
City of WilsonWilson, TX20 of 2036.0 ppb489
Brainard, Village ofBrainard, NE18 of 1836.0 ppb354
Klondike Independent School DistrictLamesa, TX2 of 236.0 ppb264
Aurora, City ofAurora, KS2 of 235.5 ppb55
Geuda Springs, City ofGeuda Springs, KS2 of 235.0 ppb181
Green River Mutual Water CompanyPaso Robles, CA7 of 734.7 ppb350
Duval County Crd ConcepcionBenavides, TX2 of 234.1 ppb161
Waverly, City ofWaverly, NE11 of 1133.6 ppb3,227
Dorsett PlaceAustin, TX2 of 233.6 ppb42
Cox Addition Water SystemLubbock, TX17 of 1733.2 ppb114
Morganville, City ofMorganville, KS1 of 132.0 ppb188
Country View Mobile Home ParkShallowater, TX1 of 132.0 ppb55
Kensington, City ofKensington, KS9 of 931.6 ppb439
Welch Water Supply CorporationWelch, TX2 of 231.0 ppb315
Bogue, City ofBogue, KS1 of 131.0 ppb136
City of MortonMorton, TX4 of 430.8 ppb2,025
Falfurrias Utility Board EncinoFalfurrias, TX2 of 230.6 ppb225
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Morro Bay PW Department - Water DivisionMorro Bay, CA21 of 2222.0 ppb10,327
City of MidlandMidland, TX10 of 1520.7 ppb132,950
City of Hastings*Hastings, NE4 of 417.9 ppb25,224
Monroe*Monroe, MI1 of 116.0 ppb48,664
City of Davis*Davis, CA66 of 10414.2 ppb67,298
City of Salina*Salina, KS6 of 614.2 ppb46,716
Golden State Water Company - SimiLos Osos, CA11 of 1212.9 ppb40,638
City of Show LowShow Low, AZ33 of 3412.5 ppb17,139
St. Johns County Sawgrass Grid*Ponte Vedra, FL2 of 412.3 ppb12,133
City of OcoeeOcoee, FL2 of 411.2 ppb34,000
City of AndrewsAndrews, TX3 of 311.0 ppb11,088
Ventura Waterworks District No. 8 - Simi ValleySimi Valley, CA6 of 1010.8 ppb86,000
City of Kingsville*Kingsville, TX14 of 149.96 ppb29,947
Military Highway WSC - ProgresoProgreso, TX3 of 49.68 ppb11,136
City of Great BendGreat Bend, KS18 of 189.58 ppb15,170
City of Dodge CityDodge City, KS28 of 298.68 ppb27,329
City of LiberalLiberal, KS16 of 168.41 ppb39,321
City of BrentwoodBrentwood, CA31 of 418.26 ppb53,278
Oxnard Water Department*Oxnard, CA23 of 527.90 ppb200,855
Paso Robles Water DepartmentPaso Robles, CA46 of 747.57 ppb30,500
City of HaysvilleHaysville, KS2 of 27.55 ppb11,264
Shawnee County RWD 4C*Topeka, KS4 of 47.43 ppb12,000
Pennsville Twsp. Water Depart.Pennsville, NJ10 of 117.18 ppb13,500
City of McPherson*Mcpherson, KS2 of 27.15 ppb13,077
City of PattersonPatterson, CA13 of 146.93 ppb20,560
Santa Paula Water System*Santa Paula, CA52 of 636.83 ppb30,048
Montecito Water DistrictSanta Barbara, CA5 of 86.50 ppb13,500
City of Hays*Hays, KS2 of 26.50 ppb20,852
Buckeye Water District 50Deville, LA12 of 286.38 ppb11,700
U.S. Air Force Luke Air Force BaseLuke Afb, AZ3 of 36.33 ppb10,708
Pueblo West MDPueblo West, CO9 of 96.33 ppb30,000
MooreMoore, OK16 of 446.28 ppb55,083
St. Johns County Utilities-Ponte VedraPonte Vedra Beach, FL1 of 46.25 ppb12,948
Camino Real Regional Utility AuthoritySunland Park, NM5 of 96.19 ppb17,016
City of WoodlandWoodland, CA3 of 56.12 ppb56,464
Military Highway WSC - Las Rusias WTPProgreso, TX6 of 106.06 ppb14,292
Fillmore Water DepartmentFillmore, CA3 of 56.00 ppb15,222
City of AvondaleAvondale, AZ24 of 295.84 ppb83,001
Tarpon Springs Water System*Tarpon Springs, FL6 of 85.84 ppb30,415
Nueces County WCID 3*Robstown, TX5 of 65.75 ppb14,607
Larned State HospitalLarned, KS10 of 105.72 ppb11,964
California Water Service Company - Hermosa / Redondo BeachSan Jose, CA5 of 65.72 ppb95,605
City of FountainFountain, CO7 of 75.64 ppb29,000
Portales Water System*Portales, NM3 of 45.55 ppb14,067
Arizona Water Company - Pinal Valley*Phoenix, AZ17 of 195.38 ppb88,019
Northwest Park MUDHouston, TX5 of 85.38 ppb17,406
Harris County MUD 168Sugar Land, TX4 of 55.22 ppb13,029
West Jordan City Water SystemWest Jordan, UT8 of 85.08 ppb113,699
Eagle Mountain CityEagle Mountain, UT9 of 95.00 ppb36,000
Epcor Water - Chaparral CityYoungtown, AZ7 of 84.99 ppb26,026

* 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 Selenium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.