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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbofuran

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Carbofuran is a highly toxic insecticide phased out from use in the U.S. since 2009 due to the risks it posed to children and the environment.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

6

states detected

25

utilities detected

380,000

people served

2

states over health guideline

2

utilities over health guideline

9,444

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for carbofuran

Harm to the brain and nervous system

Harm to the reproductive system

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.7 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.7 ppb for carbofuran 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 harm to the brain and nervous system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 40 ppb

The legal limit for carbofuran, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against harm to the brain and nervous system due to carbofuran exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting carbofuran in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Florida0016299,083
Massachusetts00452,174
Alabama00219,536
Virginia19,36419,364
New York180180
Colorado00166
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce carbofuran

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of carbofuran, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Magnolia Water Utl - Bleu Lake HillsSt. Ann, LA2 of 41.75 ppb420
Wooded Hills Mobile Home ParkBronx, NY1 of 10.900 ppb80
Glens Falls CityGlens Falls, NY1 of 50.620 ppb14,000
Clinton Water UtilityClinton, IN1 of 70.471 ppb4,893
Herring Cove Condominiums TrustPlymouth, MA1 of 20.450 ppb25
St. Lucie Mobile VillageIndiantown, FL1 of 20.450 ppb750
Hcsa- Leigh Street PlantSouth Boston, VA1 of 30.300 ppb9,364
Nsa Hampton Roads, Portsmouth AnnexNorfolk, VA1 of 50.200 ppb6,350
City of Portsmouth*Suffolk, VA1 of 50.200 ppb120,400
Norfolk Naval ShipyardPortsmouth, VA1 of 50.200 ppb17,000
City of Chesapeake - Western Branch SystemChesapeake, VA1 of 50.200 ppb32,326
City of Fort MeadeFort Meade, FL1 of 50.180 ppb5,455
Faith Farms MinistriesBoynton Beach, FL1 of 20.175 ppb200
Marion Water Division*Marion, MA1 of 80.113 ppb6,076
Florida Pines Mobile Home ParkVenice, FL1 of 20.105 ppb280
Beauregard Water AuthorityOpelika, AL1 of 90.0878 ppb11,178
Topsfield Water DepartmentTopsfield, MA1 of 110.0818 ppb5,257
Elgin, City ofElgin, NE1 of 80.0760 ppb667
Wannacomet Water CompanyNantucket, MA1 of 120.0750 ppb27,703
Mulberry, City ofMulberry, FL2 of 90.0711 ppb3,780
Creighton, City ofCreighton, NE1 of 80.0676 ppb1,200
Sunrise SouthwestFort Lauderdale, FL1 of 50.0640 ppb9,457
Utica, Village ofUtica, NE1 of 80.0634 ppb867
Tobacco RoadQuincy, FL1 of 40.0625 ppb136
Hinson HeightsQuincy, FL1 of 40.0625 ppb175
Havana, Town of Water System*Havana, FL1 of 40.0625 ppb3,977
Clifton Park Water Authority*Clifton Park, NY1 of 320.0594 ppb39,710
Round Lake Village (Clifton Park Water Authority)Round Lake, NY1 of 320.0594 ppb650
Dannebrog, Village ofDannebrog, NE1 of 90.0582 ppb304
Pembroke Water Division DpwPembroke, MA1 of 160.0563 ppb19,189
Deshler, City ofDeshler, NE1 of 90.0561 ppb747
Hickory Grove Water SystemCoushatta, LA2 of 160.0488 ppb570
Fern Crest Utilities Inc.Ft Lauderdale, FL1 of 70.0457 ppb3,123
Pine Ridge EstatesLakeland, FL1 of 70.0457 ppb52
City of ColumbusColumbus, NE1 of 150.0380 ppb22,797
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 160.0200 ppb127,700
Copper Mountain Consolidated MdCopper Mountain, CO1 of 170.0188 ppb5,785
Quint-mar Water Authority*Highland Home, AL1 of 240.0168 ppb8,358
Signal Mountain Ranch Property Owners Water CompanyBeulah, CO1 of 50.0140 ppb66
Mobile Manor Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb482
Tamiami Village Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb1,200
Pine Lakes Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb1,220
Old Bridge Village Mobile Home ParkNorth Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb1,000
Town of Fort Myers Beach (beach Water)Fort Myers Beach, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb6,900
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb12,717
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb251,502
Iberville Waterworks District #2*Plaquemine, LA2 of 4040.00307 ppb4,506
Baton Rouge Water Company*Baton Rouge, LA2 of 4040.00307 ppb527,067
Ascension Parish Water Works District 2Baton Rouge, LA2 of 4040.00307 ppb1,206

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

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Glens Falls CityGlens Falls, NY1 of 50.620 ppb14,000
City of Chesapeake - Western Branch SystemChesapeake, VA1 of 50.200 ppb32,326
Norfolk Naval ShipyardPortsmouth, VA1 of 50.200 ppb17,000
City of Portsmouth*Suffolk, VA1 of 50.200 ppb120,400
Beauregard Water AuthorityOpelika, AL1 of 90.0878 ppb11,178
Wannacomet Water CompanyNantucket, MA1 of 120.0750 ppb27,703
Clifton Park Water Authority*Clifton Park, NY1 of 320.0594 ppb39,710
Pembroke Water Division DpwPembroke, MA1 of 160.0563 ppb19,189
City of ColumbusColumbus, NE1 of 150.0380 ppb22,797
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 160.0200 ppb127,700
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb251,502
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL1 of 250.01000 ppb12,717
Baton Rouge Water Company*Baton Rouge, LA2 of 4040.00307 ppb527,067

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