Cedar Key Water Treatment Plant
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 - March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in serious violation federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility Details
- Cedar Key, Florida
- Serves: 704
- Data available: 2014-2019
- Source: Groundwater
Contaminants Detected
3
EXCEED
EWG HEALTH
GUIDELINES
9 Total Contaminants
- Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
- Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
- The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
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See the guideContaminants Detected
Arsenic
Potential Effect: cancer125x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINEArsenic
more aboutthis contaminant
Arsenic is a potent carcinogen and common contaminant in drinking water. Arsenic causes thousands of cases of cancer each year in the U.S. Click here to read more about arsenic.
Arsenic was found at 125 times above EWG's Health Guideline.
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
ppb = parts per billion
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.004 ppb for arsenic 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.
Pollution Sources
Agriculture
Industry
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)†
Potential Effect: cancer485x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINEHaloacetic acids (HAA5)
more aboutthis contaminant
Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) was found at 485 times above EWG's Health Guideline.
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
ppb = parts per billion
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for the group of five haloacetic acids, or HAA5, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.
Pollution Sources
Treatment Byproducts
Filtering Options
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)†
over legal limitTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
more aboutthis contaminant
Trihalomethanes are cancer-causing contaminants that form during water treatment with chlorine and other disinfectants. The total trihalomethanes group includes four chemicals: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) was found at 629 times above EWG's Health Guideline.
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
ppb = parts per billion
Health Risks
The health guideline of 0.15 parts per billion, or ppb, for the group of four trihalomethanes, or THM4/TTHM, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-one-million lifetime cancer risk level.Pollution Sources
Treatment Byproducts
Filtering Options
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Includes chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages exceeded the federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL); chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority.
† HAA5 is a contaminant group that includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. HAA9 is a contaminant group that includes the chemicals in HAA5 and bromochloroacetic acid, bromodichloroacetic acid, chlorodibromoacetic acid and tribromoacetic acid. TTHM is a contaminant group that includes bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform and dibromochloromethane.
Aluminum
more aboutthis contaminant
Aluminum is a metal released from metal refineries and mining operations. Too much aluminum exposure can impair children's brain development.
How your levels compare
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
National Average
State Average
ppb = parts per billion
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 600 ppb for aluminum 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.
Pollution Sources
Industry
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Antimony
more aboutthis contaminant
Antimony is a naturally occurring metal that enters tap water from plumbing fittings and also from industrial uses, such as production of metal alloys, batteries and plastics. Antimony causes organ damage and shortens lifespans in studies of laboratory animals.
How your levels compare
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
ppb = parts per billion
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppb for antimony 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 change to the stomach and intestines.
Pollution Sources
Industry
Runoff & Sprawl
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Barium is a mineral present in rocks, soil and water. High concentrations of barium in drinking water increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
How your levels compare
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
ppb = parts per billion
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 700 ppb for barium was defined by EWG as benchmark that protects against harm to the kidneys and the cardiovascular system.
Pollution Sources
Industry
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Chromium (total)
more aboutthis contaminant
Chromium is a naturally occurring metal, but industrial uses can elevate its levels in water. One form, hexavalent chromium, causes cancer. Total chromium is not a good indicator of the amount of hexavalent chromium in drinking water.
How your levels compare
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
ppb = parts per billion
Pollution Sources
Industry
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Nitrate
more aboutthis contaminant
Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.
How your levels compare
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
ppm = parts per million
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
Pollution Sources
Agriculture
Runoff & Sprawl
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Thallium
more aboutthis contaminant
Thalium is a naturally occurring metal released into the environment from metal smelting and coal burning. Exposure to too much thalium can cause hair loss, liver damage, reduced sperm motility and nervous system impairment.
How your levels compare
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
ppb = parts per billion
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for thallium 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 internal organs.
Pollution Sources
Industry
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Includes chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages were lower than an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authori.
Other Contaminants Tested
✕Cedar Key Water Treatment Plant compliance with legally mandated federal standards:
- From April 2019 to March 2021, Cedar Key Water Treatment Plant did not comply with health-based drinking water standards.
- 12 QUARTERSin violation of any federal drinking water standard from April 2019 to March 2021
- Over the last 3 years this water utility has spent 6 QUARTERSin significant violation of federal drinking water standards
Information in this section on Cedar Key Water Treatment Plant comes from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online database (ECHO).
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS UTILITYWater Filters That Can Reduce Contaminant Levels
| Contaminant | Activated Carbon | Reverse Osmosis | Ion Exchange |
| CONTAMINANTS ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | |||
| Arsenic | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| OTHER CONTAMINANTS DETECTED | |||
| Aluminum | ✔ | ||
| Antimony | ✔ | ||
| Barium | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Chromium (total) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Nitrate | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Thallium | ✔ | ✔ | |
Take Action
Contact Your Local Official
One of the best ways to push for cleaner water is to hold accountable the elected officials who have a say in water quality – from city hall and the state legislature to Congress all the way to the Oval Office – by asking questions and demanding answers.
LEARN MOREFilter Out Contaminants
Check out our recommendations for filters to protect your water against the detected contaminants.
EWG’S WATER FILTER GUIDE
