Uranium
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Uranium is a known human carcinogen. The federal legal limit for uranium is set at 30 micrograms per liter (corresponding to parts per billion), but utilities can also report uranium in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), which is a measure of radioactivity in water. EWG translated all uranium results to pCi/L using a conversion factor developed by the EPA. With this conversion approach, the limit of 30 ppb corresponds to 20 pCi/L. Drinking water with this much uranium would cause more than 4.6 cancer cases in a population of 100,000. California set a public health goal for uranium of 0.43 pCi/L. Read More.
Multiple forms of uranium can be detected in water, including uranium-234, uranium-235 and uranium-238. Uranium-234 is the most toxic form of uranium for human health.
2014-2019:
45
states detected
8,426
utilities detected
80 million
people served
44
states over health guideline
6,962
utilities over health guideline
61 million
people served over health guideline
22
states over legal limit
103
utilities over legal limit
62,868
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for uranium
Cancer
Harm to the kidney
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.43 pCi/L
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.43 pCi/L for uranium 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. Three most common uranium isotopes are U-234, U-235 and U-238. All isotopes of uranium are radioactive, and the total radioactivity depends on the ratio of isotopes. This health guideline protects against cancer.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 20 pCi/L
pCi/L = picocuries per liter
States reporting uranium in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 902 | 26,856,689 | 933 | 27,994,597 | |||
| Texas | 1,121 | 7,287,337 | 1,250 | 11,397,557 | |||
| Florida | 135 | 3,248,648 | 260 | 6,773,802 | |||
| Colorado | 436 | 2,174,162 | 552 | 4,696,268 | |||
| New York | 252 | 980,429 | 486 | 3,857,691 | |||
| Arizona | 105 | 3,042,837 | 108 | 3,052,690 | |||
| New Jersey | 97 | 2,075,146 | 108 | 3,048,387 | |||
| Nevada | 159 | 2,783,108 | 163 | 2,783,187 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 234 | 1,931,506 | 306 | 2,303,565 | |||
| New Mexico | 464 | 1,801,506 | 471 | 1,872,233 | |||
| Utah | 40 | 1,393,719 | 41 | 1,393,959 | |||
| Wisconsin | 91 | 462,962 | 271 | 1,352,353 | |||
| Louisiana | 16 | 620,427 | 65 | 1,346,538 | |||
| Indiana | 41 | 1,156,390 | 64 | 1,297,362 | |||
| Idaho | 404 | 959,129 | 450 | 1,014,095 | |||
| Oklahoma | 272 | 748,529 | 310 | 924,324 | |||
| Iowa | 68 | 534,462 | 61 | 530,915 | |||
| Missouri | 36 | 54,804 | 61 | 430,768 | |||
| Montana | 381 | 352,266 | 394 | 395,251 | |||
| Connecticut | 211 | 205,405 | 236 | 374,554 | |||
| Oregon | 68 | 87,800 | 98 | 374,302 | |||
| Maine | 118 | 96,465 | 152 | 339,519 | |||
| North Carolina | 357 | 164,953 | 409 | 332,707 | |||
| North Dakota | 146 | 146,145 | 194 | 311,365 | |||
| Nebraska | 116 | 295,670 | 115 | 295,490 | |||
| Wyoming | 135 | 293,730 | 125 | 293,913 | |||
| Kansas | 44 | 263,697 | 41 | 260,958 | |||
| New Hampshire | 276 | 104,396 | 349 | 248,835 | |||
| Illinois | 2 | 2,650 | 24 | 188,061 | |||
| Maryland | 8 | 158,273 | 8 | 158,273 | |||
| Georgia | 46 | 66,752 | 51 | 115,546 | |||
| Minnesota | 18 | 83,237 | 19 | 103,637 | |||
| Kentucky | 2 | 9,983 | 13 | 56,283 | |||
| Virginia | 17 | 7,876 | 48 | 47,398 | |||
| Massachusetts | 23 | 17,151 | 25 | 37,401 | |||
| West Virginia | 2 | 6,650 | 3 | 30,945 | |||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 3 | 30,299 | |||
| Mississippi | 1 | 1,068 | 6 | 28,707 | |||
| South Carolina | 32 | 20,698 | 31 | 20,655 | |||
| Michigan | 3 | 3,607 | 9 | 20,046 | |||
| South Dakota | 22 | 14,352 | 23 | 14,502 | |||
| Washington | 21 | 12,360 | 27 | 13,672 | |||
| Alaska | 4 | 917 | 24 | 11,588 | |||
| Vermont | 27 | 9,408 | 30 | 9,678 | |||
| Rhode Island | 9 | 1,356 | 9 | 1,356 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce uranium
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Utilities with the highest amounts of uranium, 2014-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Twenty Four Mobile Home Pk | North Fork, CA | 1 of 1 | 89.00 pCi/L | 30 |
| Queen's Inn By The River | Oakhurst, CA | 5 of 5 | 81.00 pCi/L | 50 |
| Crawford* | Crawford, GA | 5 of 5 | 69.27 pCi/L | 1,170 |
| Alto | Alto, GA | 10 of 10 | 61.12 pCi/L | 2,545 |
| Md#06 Lake Shore Park | Madera, CA | 10 of 10 | 57.69 pCi/L | 130 |
| Glen Acres Water Co-op | Lordsburg, NM | 19 of 19 | 54.31 pCi/L | 180 |
| South Kingstown Nursing and Rehab | West Kingston, RI | 6 of 6 | 53.48 pCi/L | 175 |
| Riviera WCID | Riviera, TX | 28 of 28 | 49.54 pCi/L | 729 |
| Sierra Linda Mutual Water Company | North Fork, CA | 12 of 12 | 47.74 pCi/L | 180 |
| Oconee Springs Landing S/d | Atlanta, GA | 2 of 2 | 45.40 pCi/L | 346 |
| Hillview Water Company-oakhurst/sierra Lakes* | Oakhurst, CA | 223 of 227 | 42.72 pCi/L | 2,805 |
| Broadview Terrace Mutual Water Company | Oakhurst, CA | 223 of 227 | 42.72 pCi/L | 510 |
| Pecan Grove Mobile Home Park | San Antonio, TX | 8 of 8 | 42.17 pCi/L | 81 |
| Mitchells Camp Family Association | Palo Verde, CA | 10 of 10 | 42.01 pCi/L | 175 |
| East Three Rivers Mutual | Three Rivers, CA | 3 of 3 | 41.69 pCi/L | 28 |
| Sheridan Lake Water Company | Sheridan Lake, CO | 12 of 12 | 40.03 pCi/L | 160 |
| Csa 70-f Morongo | Victorville, CA | 62 of 62 | 39.47 pCi/L | 450 |
| Buttonwillow County Water District | Buttonwillow, CA | 4 of 4 | 39.20 pCi/L | 1,266 |
| Md#42 Still Meadow | Madera, CA | 9 of 9 | 38.21 pCi/L | 100 |
| Guatay Mutual Benefit Corporation | Guatay, CA | 42 of 44 | 37.98 pCi/L | 100 |
| Rosamond Mobilehome Park | Tustin, CA | 24 of 24 | 35.63 pCi/L | 175 |
| Meadow Lakes Subdivision | Crawford, GA | 1 of 1 | 35.00 pCi/L | 81 |
| Rainbird Valley Mutual Water Company | Weldon, CA | 42 of 43 | 34.86 pCi/L | 188 |
| Daggett Community Services District | Daggett, CA | 12 of 12 | 34.36 pCi/L | 795 |
| White Plains | White Plains, GA | 7 of 10 | 34.04 pCi/L | 437 |
| Knoll Enterprises | Ludlow, CA | 38 of 40 | 32.02 pCi/L | 500 |
| Eagles Nest Estates | Chadron, NE | 3 of 3 | 31.23 pCi/L | 52 |
| Kelvin Simmons Co-op | San Tan Valley, AZ | 6 of 6 | 31.09 pCi/L | 25 |
| Strawberry Fields Mobile Home Park | Plant City, FL | 26 of 26 | 30.69 pCi/L | 250 |
| Rancho Santa Teresa Mw Company | Ramona, CA | 39 of 39 | 29.84 pCi/L | 74 |
| Martin's Mobile Home Court | Newman, CA | 13 of 13 | 29.71 pCi/L | 60 |
| Beverly, City of | Beverly, KS | 6 of 6 | 29.52 pCi/L | 148 |
| Rio Brazos Water System | Choctaw, TX | 24 of 24 | 28.97 pCi/L | 108 |
| Jim Wells County Fresh Water Supply District 1 | Ben Bolt, TX | 24 of 24 | 28.71 pCi/L | 1,890 |
| Santa Cruz Water Association | Santa Cruz, NM | 47 of 47 | 28.64 pCi/L | 343 |
| Piedmont Municpal Authority | Piedmont, OK | 6 of 6 | 28.21 pCi/L | 7,542 |
| Johnson Creek Water Users Association | Tonasket, WA | 15 of 15 | 28.10 pCi/L | 48 |
| R.s. Mutual Water Company | Wofford Heights, CA | 23 of 23 | 27.57 pCi/L | 67 |
| Cliffs At Keowee (sc3950009) | Seneca, SC | 4 of 4 | 27.24 pCi/L | 23 |
| Byram Hmwnrs Association Water | Phillipsburg, NJ | 10 of 11 | 27.04 pCi/L | 400 |
| Ojo Caliente Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association | Ojo Caliente, NM | 49 of 49 | 26.65 pCi/L | 226 |
| Martinsburg, Village of | Allen, NE | 31 of 31 | 26.56 pCi/L | 94 |
| Haystack Estates | Westford, MA | 27 of 33 | 26.36 pCi/L | 60 |
| Barrett Lake Mobile Home and Rv LLC | Dulzura, CA | 20 of 21 | 26.30 pCi/L | 150 |
| Old River Mutual Water Company | Bakersfield, CA | 23 of 23 | 26.09 pCi/L | 60 |
| Trotter`s Ridge Subdivision | Watkinsville, GA | 3 of 3 | 25.80 pCi/L | 187 |
| Pecan Tree Water Association | Noble, OK | 30 of 30 | 25.76 pCi/L | 22 |
| Valley Estates Water & Sewer Association | Fairview, NM | 25 of 25 | 25.70 pCi/L | 194 |
| Trampas Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association | Chamisal, NM | 25 of 25 | 25.57 pCi/L | 132 |
| Round Mountain Water Company | Bakersfield, CA | 48 of 48 | 25.13 pCi/L | 50 |
* 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 Uranium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrington Twp Water&sew Dept | Warrington, PA | 24 of 24 | 20.00 pCi/L | 21,588 |
| City of Sanger | Sanger, CA | 1 of 1 | 19.00 pCi/L | 25,664 |
| City of Scottsbluff* | Scottsbluff, NE | 36 of 36 | 17.11 pCi/L | 15,030 |
| City of North Platte* | North Platte, NE | 6 of 6 | 14.93 pCi/L | 25,000 |
| City of Grand Island* | Grand Island, NE | 41 of 41 | 14.31 pCi/L | 51,440 |
| Dona Ana MDWCA | Dona Ana, NM | 12 of 12 | 14.01 pCi/L | 16,217 |
| City of Hastings* | Hastings, NE | 15 of 15 | 13.93 pCi/L | 25,224 |
| City of Lexington | Lexington, NE | 20 of 20 | 13.84 pCi/L | 10,230 |
| Centerville City Water System | Centerville, UT | 2 of 2 | 13.63 pCi/L | 16,000 |
| White City WID | Sandy, UT | 2 of 2 | 13.58 pCi/L | 15,800 |
| City of Garden City* | Garden City, KS | 2 of 2 | 13.11 pCi/L | 26,546 |
| Mission Springs WD | Desert Hot Springs, CA | 182 of 183 | 12.43 pCi/L | 34,626 |
| West Kern Water District | Taft, CA | 31 of 31 | 11.68 pCi/L | 21,181 |
| City of Hereford | Hereford, TX | 21 of 21 | 11.53 pCi/L | 15,370 |
| Twentynine Palms Water District | Twentynine Palms, CA | 58 of 58 | 11.42 pCi/L | 18,600 |
| Murray City Water System* | Murray, UT | 3 of 3 | 11.26 pCi/L | 36,000 |
| Carson City Public Works* | Carson City, NV | 819 of 821 | 11.18 pCi/L | 56,000 |
| South Adams County Water and Sanitation District | Commerce City, CO | 17 of 17 | 10.95 pCi/L | 63,808 |
| Midvale City Water System | Midvale, UT | 5 of 5 | 10.72 pCi/L | 33,000 |
| Espanola Water System* | Espanola, NM | 10 of 10 | 10.65 pCi/L | 12,012 |
| East Pasadena Water Company | Pasadena, CA | 6 of 6 | 10.62 pCi/L | 10,978 |
| Desert Water Agency | Palm Springs, CA | 44 of 44 | 10.20 pCi/L | 83,710 |
| City of Kerman | Kerman, CA | 16 of 17 | 9.99 pCi/L | 14,068 |
| Farmington City Water System | Farmington, UT | 2 of 2 | 9.92 pCi/L | 24,000 |
| City of Midland | Midland, TX | 2 of 2 | 9.88 pCi/L | 132,950 |
| Pasadena* | Pasadena, CA | 23 of 24 | 9.71 pCi/L | 165,740 |
| City of Dodge City | Dodge City, KS | 1 of 1 | 9.60 pCi/L | 27,329 |
| Waterpro Inc | Draper, UT | 2 of 2 | 9.51 pCi/L | 28,000 |
| Burbank Water Department | Burbank, CA | 2 of 2 | 9.05 pCi/L | 105,543 |
| City of Corona* | Corona, CA | 39 of 56 | 8.99 pCi/L | 155,896 |
| City of Ceres | Ceres, CA | 235 of 235 | 8.92 pCi/L | 42,666 |
| City of Elko | Elko, NV | 44 of 45 | 8.90 pCi/L | 20,451 |
| Northwest Park MUD | Houston, TX | 6 of 6 | 8.86 pCi/L | 17,406 |
| Global Water - Santa Cruz Water Company | Maricopa, AZ | 94 of 96 | 8.61 pCi/L | 17,005 |
| City of Kuna | Kuna, ID | 20 of 21 | 8.39 pCi/L | 22,830 |
| Mustang | Mustang, OK | 2 of 2 | 8.07 pCi/L | 15,435 |
| California Water Service (CWS) - Salinas | San Jose, CA | 171 of 178 | 7.93 pCi/L | 106,858 |
| Golden State Water Company - Bay Point | Rancho Cordova, CA | 1 of 1 | 7.80 pCi/L | 22,258 |
| City of Lemoore | Lemoore, CA | 1 of 1 | 7.80 pCi/L | 24,945 |
| City of Garden Grove | Garden Grove, CA | 37 of 37 | 7.75 pCi/L | 170,883 |
| Golden State Water Company - West Orange | Anaheim, CA | 20 of 21 | 7.75 pCi/L | 114,016 |
| California Water Service (CWS) - Selma | San Jose, CA | 6 of 7 | 7.71 pCi/L | 24,587 |
| City of Riverside* | Riverside, CA | 308 of 308 | 7.69 pCi/L | 303,871 |
| South Orange Water Department | South Orange, NJ | 1 of 1 | 7.66 pCi/L | 16,964 |
| City of Fresno* | Fresno, CA | 38 of 40 | 7.65 pCi/L | 522,352 |
| City of Ripon | Ripon, CA | 4 of 6 | 7.45 pCi/L | 14,915 |
| City of Corcoran | Corcoran, CA | 2 of 2 | 7.41 pCi/L | 24,813 |
| City of Englewood | Englewood, CO | 1 of 1 | 7.37 pCi/L | 46,541 |
| City of Kearney | Kearney, NE | 24 of 24 | 7.35 pCi/L | 30,919 |
| Military Highway WSC - Progreso | Progreso, TX | 4 of 4 | 7.30 pCi/L | 11,136 |
* 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 Uranium, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.