Atrazine
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Atrazine is a herbicide commonly detected in drinking water that comes from cornfield and other agricultural runoff. It is a hormone disrupter that harms the male and female reproductive systems of people and wildlife. Read More.
Federal laws allow up to 3 parts per billion of atrazine in treated tap water. Water suppliers average atrazine measurements collected over a year, which means that the reported values underestimate intense spikes of elevated exposures during the periods in late spring and early summer when atrazine is applied in large amounts on farm fields.
Human epidemiological studies suggest that federal standards for atrazine are insufficient to protect public health. In 1999 the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment set a public health goal of 0.15 parts per billion for atrazine in drinking water, based on a study finding increased rates of breast cancer in rats exposed to the chemical. California’s legal maximum for atrazine in tap water is 1 ppb.
2017-2019:
36
states detected
2,321
utilities detected
43 million
people served
24
states over health guideline
1,457
utilities over health guideline
19 million
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for atrazine
Harm to the developing fetus
Hormone disruption
Harm to the reproductive system
Changes in the nervous system
Changes in brain and behavior
Cancer
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for atrazine was defined by EWG based on epidemiological studies of human exposure to atrazine in drinking water.. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus, harm to the reproductive system and hormone disruption.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 3 ppb
The legal limit for atrazine, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit does not fully protect against harm to the reproductive system, harm to the developing fetus, and hormone disruption.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting atrazine in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 422 | 7,281,502 | 697 | 13,521,646 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 23 | 629,076 | 56 | 3,505,551 | |||
| Missouri | 182 | 3,049,872 | 166 | 3,166,475 | |||
| Virginia | 1 | 12,124 | 27 | 3,060,548 | |||
| Ohio | 28 | 431,356 | 86 | 2,548,714 | |||
| Kansas | 324 | 2,109,038 | 413 | 2,373,336 | |||
| Maryland | 1 | 6,200 | 19 | 2,364,591 | |||
| Indiana | 36 | 1,523,603 | 75 | 1,967,155 | |||
| North Carolina | 31 | 478,431 | 70 | 1,665,442 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 55 | 1,401,178 | |||
| Illinois | 172 | 723,739 | 232 | 1,300,000 | |||
| Louisiana | 29 | 917,501 | 41 | 1,263,513 | |||
| Oklahoma | 59 | 840,682 | 63 | 862,475 | |||
| Iowa | 52 | 335,576 | 76 | 844,986 | |||
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 4 | 688,882 | |||
| Kentucky | 27 | 218,702 | 64 | 650,034 | |||
| Tennessee | 33 | 285,436 | 57 | 458,436 | |||
| Nebraska | 2 | 590 | 24 | 431,835 | |||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 14 | 328,829 | |||
| South Carolina | 7 | 240,766 | 7 | 240,766 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 4 | 61,896 | |||
| Massachusetts | 1 | 54 | 3 | 55,934 | |||
| New Mexico | 2 | 398 | 5 | 52,435 | |||
| Alabama | 2 | 28,395 | 4 | 42,846 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33,816 | |||
| South Dakota | 19 | 29,722 | 19 | 29,722 | |||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 9 | 23,879 | |||
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 8 | 22,144 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19,354 | |||
| California | 1 | 6,309 | 2 | 13,809 | |||
| Hawaii | 2 | 967 | 11 | 13,138 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3,190 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 1 | 760 | |||
| Washington | 1 | 48 | 2 | 348 | |||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | 2 | 345 | |||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 1 | 57 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce atrazine
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of atrazine, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County Rural Water District 2* | Mound City, KS | 5 of 8 | 2.17 ppb | 1,960 |
| Mound City, City of | Mound City, KS | 5 of 8 | 2.17 ppb | 686 |
| Public Wholesale WSD 13* | Mound City, KS | 5 of 8 | 2.17 ppb | 1 |
| Linn County Rural Water District 1 | La Cygne, KS | 5 of 8 | 2.17 ppb | 1,200 |
| Hume PWS | Hume, MO | 5 of 8 | 2.17 ppb | 336 |
| Parker, City of | Parker, KS | 5 of 8 | 2.17 ppb | 267 |
| Blue Mound, City of | Blue Mound, KS | 5 of 8 | 2.17 ppb | 273 |
| Howard, City of* | Howard, KS | 10 of 13 | 2.16 ppb | 602 |
| Elk County Rural Water District 2 | Howard, KS | 10 of 13 | 2.16 ppb | 206 |
| Neosho County Rural Water District 1c | Erie, KS | 9 of 12 | 2.07 ppb | 670 |
| Erie, City of* | Erie, KS | 9 of 12 | 2.07 ppb | 1,085 |
| Great Plains Development Authority | Parsons, KS | 12 of 18 | 1.87 ppb | 182 |
| Richmond, City of | Richmond, KS | 7 of 7 | 1.82 ppb | 458 |
| Russell, City of | Russell, KS | 10 of 17 | 1.81 ppb | 4,463 |
| Oswego, City of* | Oswego, KS | 13 of 22 | 1.65 ppb | 1,698 |
| Labette County Rural Water District 1c | Oswego, KS | 13 of 22 | 1.65 ppb | 285 |
| Mitchell County Rural Water District 1 | Beloit, KS | 16 of 16 | 1.56 ppb | 345 |
| Beloit, City of* | Beloit, KS | 16 of 16 | 1.56 ppb | 3,726 |
| Anderson County Rural Water District 1 | Garnett, KS | 11 of 22 | 1.44 ppb | 37 |
| Garnett, City of* | Garnett, KS | 11 of 22 | 1.44 ppb | 3,262 |
| Carbondale, City of* | Carbondale, KS | 9 of 12 | 1.37 ppb | 1,377 |
| Udall, City of | Udall, KS | 1 of 3 | 1.37 ppb | 714 |
| Valley Falls, City of | Valley Falls, KS | 7 of 8 | 1.33 ppb | 1,129 |
| Hunter, City of | Hunter, KS | 7 of 7 | 1.26 ppb | 56 |
| Mitchell County Rural Water District 3* | Beloit, KS | 7 of 7 | 1.26 ppb | 2,048 |
| Tipton, City of | Tipton, KS | 7 of 7 | 1.26 ppb | 198 |
| Mitchell County Rural Water District 2* | Glen Elder, KS | 7 of 7 | 1.26 ppb | 1,291 |
| Franklin County Rural Water District 6* | Rantoul, KS | 7 of 8 | 1.24 ppb | 2,960 |
| Lane, City of | Lane, KS | 7 of 8 | 1.24 ppb | 226 |
| Nodaway County Public Water Supply District 1* | Maryville, MO | 24 of 25 | 1.21 ppb | 6,428 |
| Maryville* | Maryville, MO | 24 of 25 | 1.21 ppb | 11,972 |
| Concordia PWS* | Concordia, MO | 23 of 26 | 1.20 ppb | 2,500 |
| Emma PWS* | Emma, MO | 23 of 26 | 1.20 ppb | 205 |
| Allen County Rural Water District 13 | Chanute, KS | 9 of 11 | 1.14 ppb | 100 |
| Chanute, City of* | Chanute, KS | 9 of 11 | 1.14 ppb | 9,018 |
| Chetopa, City of | Chetopa, KS | 7 of 13 | 1.14 ppb | 1,035 |
| Milford, City of | Milford, KS | 1 of 3 | 1.10 ppb | 521 |
| Geary County Rural Water District 4* | Milford, KS | 1 of 3 | 1.10 ppb | 450 |
| Franklin County Rural Water District 2 | Ottawa, KS | 6 of 6 | 1.09 ppb | 400 |
| City of Ottawa* | Ottawa, KS | 6 of 6 | 1.09 ppb | 12,267 |
| Princeton, City of* | Princeton, KS | 6 of 6 | 1.09 ppb | 271 |
| Baxter Springs, City of* | Baxter Springs, KS | 1 of 12 | 1.08 ppb | 3,944 |
| Labette County Rural Water District 6 | Coffeyville, KS | 7 of 10 | 1.08 ppb | 1,550 |
| Dearing, City of* | Dearing, KS | 7 of 10 | 1.08 ppb | 386 |
| Nowata County Rural Water District #7 | South Coffeyville, OK | 7 of 10 | 1.08 ppb | 1,050 |
| South Coffeyville | South Coffeyville, OK | 7 of 10 | 1.08 ppb | 790 |
| Montgomery County Rural Water District 14 | Coffeyville, KS | 7 of 10 | 1.08 ppb | 330 |
| Coffeyville, City of* | Coffeyville, KS | 7 of 10 | 1.08 ppb | 9,366 |
| Montgomery County Rural Water District 2c A | South Coffeyville, KS | 7 of 10 | 1.08 ppb | 1,113 |
| Osawatomie, City of* | Osawatomie, KS | 4 of 6 | 1.07 ppb | 4,266 |
* 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 Atrazine, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryville* | Maryville, MO | 24 of 25 | 1.21 ppb | 11,972 |
| City of Ottawa* | Ottawa, KS | 6 of 6 | 1.09 ppb | 12,267 |
| West Warren-Viola U. D. | Morrison, TN | 6 of 15 | 1.02 ppb | 16,179 |
| City of Gardner | Gardner, KS | 7 of 8 | 0.965 ppb | 21,871 |
| Leavenworth Water Department* | Leavenworth, KS | 6 of 12 | 0.898 ppb | 36,062 |
| City of Atchison* | Atchison, KS | 7 of 19 | 0.803 ppb | 10,636 |
| City of Topeka* | Topeka, KS | 85 of 88 | 0.626 ppb | 165,000 |
| Aqua Ohio - Marion | Marion, OH | 12 of 27 | 0.621 ppb | 41,925 |
| Murphysboro* | Murphysboro, IL | 26 of 26 | 0.600 ppb | 10,941 |
| Aqua Ohio - Tiffin | Tiffin, OH | 18 of 28 | 0.558 ppb | 17,963 |
| Springfield Water System* | Springfield, TN | 7 of 23 | 0.552 ppb | 40,516 |
| Newark City PWS | Newark, OH | 12 of 32 | 0.547 ppb | 47,573 |
| City of Olathe* | Olathe, KS | 6 of 6 | 0.535 ppb | 139,605 |
| Aqua Illinois-Vermilion County* | Kankakee, IL | 3 of 8 | 0.495 ppb | 38,000 |
| Ottumwa Water Works* | Ottumwa, IA | 4 of 6 | 0.458 ppb | 25,023 |
| Delaware City PWS | Delaware, OH | 10 of 24 | 0.435 ppb | 34,982 |
| Jackson County PWSD1 | Grandview, MO | 1 of 1 | 0.430 ppb | 25,000 |
| Lafourche Water District 1 | Lockport, LA | 20 of 58 | 0.424 ppb | 78,760 |
| Lewisburg Water System* | Lewsiburg, TN | 7 of 9 | 0.403 ppb | 19,530 |
| Hardin County Water District #1* | Radcliff, KY | 2 of 12 | 0.400 ppb | 27,033 |
| Fort Leavenworth American Water Ent Inc | Fort Leavenworth, KS | 1 of 2 | 0.380 ppb | 12,934 |
| Thomas Hill PWSD 1* | Moberly, MO | 12 of 24 | 0.378 ppb | 10,315 |
| Del-Co Water Company Inc.* | Delaware, OH | 41 of 43 | 0.376 ppb | 141,407 |
| City of Midlothian* | Midlothian, TX | 15 of 17 | 0.332 ppb | 16,728 |
| City of Junction City* | Junction City, KS | 2 of 2 | 0.330 ppb | 22,120 |
| Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission* | Shelbyville, KY | 12 of 24 | 0.329 ppb | 23,760 |
| Citizens Water - Indianapolis* | Indianapolis, IN | 390 of 749 | 0.305 ppb | 825,173 |
| University Water System | Iowa City, IA | 2 of 8 | 0.300 ppb | 26,684 |
| Mattoon* | Mattoon, IL | 9 of 23 | 0.287 ppb | 19,000 |
| Indiana American Water - Muncie | Greenwood, IN | 13 of 25 | 0.284 ppb | 65,618 |
| Pulaski Water System* | Pulaski, TN | 5 of 10 | 0.278 ppb | 10,709 |
| Speedway Water Works | Speedway, IN | 11 of 23 | 0.277 ppb | 12,140 |
| Pennsylvania American Water Company - Indiana D | Indiana, PA | 6 of 12 | 0.275 ppb | 22,360 |
| Piqua City PWS | Piqua, OH | 13 of 36 | 0.271 ppb | 20,522 |
| Aqua Pa Shenango Valley WTP* | Sharon, PA | 4 of 8 | 0.270 ppb | 48,000 |
| Fremont City | Fremont, OH | 21 of 24 | 0.260 ppb | 16,677 |
| Iowa-American Water Company - Davenport | Davenport, IA | 9 of 10 | 0.260 ppb | 137,201 |
| Rathbun Regional Water Assn* | Centerville, IA | 8 of 10 | 0.260 ppb | 28,215 |
| Harris County Municipal Utility District 24 | Bellaire, TX | 1 of 4 | 0.250 ppb | 10,263 |
| City of Allen | Allen, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 102,762 |
| City of Murphy | Murphy, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 20,361 |
| City of Princeton* | Princeton, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 16,932 |
| City of Mesquite* | Mesquite, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 143,350 |
| East Fork SUD | Wylie, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 13,596 |
| City of Frisco* | Frisco, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 192,261 |
| City of McKinney* | Mckinney, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 169,710 |
| City of Plano* | Plano, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 277,720 |
| Town of Prosper | Prosper, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 22,650 |
| City of Wylie | Wylie, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 44,418 |
| City of Garland | Garland, TX | 17 of 17 | 0.249 ppb | 236,786 |
* 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 Atrazine, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.