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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Heptachlor

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Heptachlor is an insecticide used for termite control until 1988. It is linked to cancer, hormone disruption and neurotoxicity.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

8

states detected

30

utilities detected

391,000

people served

3

states over health guideline

5

utilities over health guideline

9,117

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for heptachlor

Cancer

Hormone disruption

Harm to the brain and nervous system

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.008 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.008 ppb for heptachlor 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 cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 0.4 ppb

The legal limit for heptachlor, established in 1991, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to heptachlor exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting heptachlor in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Florida128015299,918
California00139,000
Illinois00617,204
Connecticut00115,245
Nebraska1150210,380
New Mexico38,68738,687
New York001515
Colorado001160
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce heptachlor

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of heptachlor, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
College View ParkColumbus, NE1 of 40.0278 ppb150
Moore County Public Util-seven LakCarthage, NC1 of 40.0132 ppb6,756
Waverly Water SystemLake Wales, FL2 of 70.00707 ppb1,479
East Side Mobile Home ParkRantoul, IL1 of 70.00643 ppb95
Entranosa Water and Wastewater Co-op*Tijeras, NM1 of 70.00586 ppb8,500
Vista De MananaTijeras, NM1 of 70.00586 ppb63
East Mountain Water HaulingTijeras, NM1 of 70.00586 ppb124
RosiclareRosiclare, IL1 of 100.00560 ppb1,387
Lauradale S/dJacksonville, NC1 of 180.00526 ppb2,527
St. Lucie Mobile VillageIndiantown, FL1 of 20.00500 ppb750
Sage Pointe Water & Sanitation DistrictFort Collins, CO1 of 100.00500 ppb194
Kenansville, Town ofKenansville, NC1 of 130.00496 ppb876
Florida Pines Mobile Home ParkVenice, FL1 of 20.00460 ppb280
City of LexingtonLexington, NE1 of 550.00349 ppb10,230
Kaskaskia Water District*New Athens, IL1 of 270.00344 ppb1
New AthensNew Athens, IL1 of 270.00344 ppb2,225
MarissaFreeburg, IL1 of 270.00344 ppb2,200
LenzburgBelleville, IL1 of 270.00344 ppb620
TildenTilden, IL1 of 270.00344 ppb934
Louviers Water & Sanitation DistrictCastle Rock, CO1 of 120.00333 ppb238
Goshen Water District #1 (hambletonian Park)Goshen, NY1 of 100.00310 ppb515
Eglin Aux. 6 Ranger CampEglin Afb, FL2 of 40.00303 ppb125
SycamoreSycamore, IL1 of 170.00288 ppb17,600
East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission*Niantic, CT1 of 310.00284 ppb15,245
Creekside South Estates Metro DistrictFort Collins, CO3 of 510.00275 ppb160
Mulberry, City ofMulberry, FL2 of 90.00244 ppb3,780
City of Asheville*Asheville, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb124,300
Poplar Acres Mobile Home ParkMiami Beach, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb95
Fairfield ApartmentsMountain Home, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb56
Johnson-siler Mobile Home ParkOld Fort, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb150
Twin Creeks S/dDenver, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb77
Hazelwood Homeowners AssociationAsheville, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb100
Rolling Oaks EstatesPisgah Forest, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb75
Biltmore Forest, Town ofAsheville, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb1,356
Waightstill MountainArden, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb49
Burgaw, Town ofBurgaw, NC1 of 230.00217 ppb4,250
City of Fort MeadeFort Meade, FL1 of 50.00200 ppb5,455
Fern Crest Utilities Inc.Ft Lauderdale, FL1 of 70.00157 ppb3,123
Eglin 7th Special Forces GroupEglin Afb, FL1 of 40.00150 ppb1,500
Sunrise SouthwestFort Lauderdale, FL1 of 50.00134 ppb9,457
Frostproof, City ofFrostproof, FL2 of 120.001000 ppb3,550
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 160.000375 ppb127,700
Pico Rivera Water DepartmentPico Rivera, CA1 of 320.000375 ppb39,000
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb251,502
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb12,717
Town of Fort Myers Beach (beach Water)Fort Myers Beach, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb6,900
Old Bridge Village Mobile Home ParkNorth Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb1,000
Pine Lakes Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb1,220
Tamiami Village Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb1,200
Mobile Manor Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb482

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

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
City of LexingtonLexington, NE1 of 550.00349 ppb10,230
SycamoreSycamore, IL1 of 170.00288 ppb17,600
East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission*Niantic, CT1 of 310.00284 ppb15,245
City of Asheville*Asheville, NC1 of 190.00242 ppb124,300
Pico Rivera Water DepartmentPico Rivera, CA1 of 320.000375 ppb39,000
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 160.000375 ppb127,700
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb251,502
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL1 of 250.000252 ppb12,717

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