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CONTAMINANT

Cadmium

FOUND

Exceeding guidelines

STATES DETECTED

41

serves

5.3 million

utilities detected

639

states detected

41

serves

1.2 million

utilities detected

327

STATES DETECTED

2

serves

10,859

utilities detected

3

Overview

Cadmium is a toxic metal found in food and drinking water. It has been linked to kidney toxicity, bone damage, cancer, and damage to developing fetuses.

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.04 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.04 ppb for cadmium 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.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 5 ppb

The legal limit for cadmium, established in 1991, was based on research studies of cadmium toxicity conducted in the 1970s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to cadmium exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

National Standard Exists

Health Concerns:

  • Cancer

  • Harm to the kidney

  • Change in behavior

Want to remove
Cadmium from your water?

Try these filter technologies:

Activated Carbon, 

Reverse Osmosis, 

Ion Exchange, 

understand filter technology

Cadmium around the Country

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State Utilities People Served Utilities People Served
Colorado209,642571,807,216
Arizona517,71710652,469
Florida67293,80275349,070
New York2133,78125307,872
Alabama410,35611307,167
Iowa1113,217188299,592
New Jersey12106,10414230,588
Virginia711,32810194,543
Pennsylvania13175,87614183,176
Massachusetts425,8229125,111
Connecticut4120,1214120,121
Georgia26,97311105,213
Rhode Island6104,0547104,224
Missouri3353,1464090,189
Wisconsin74,6132063,726
Nevada1450259,450
California3150,5833452,447
Maryland339,747339,747
West Virginia65,1701535,507
Utah1016,7951532,973
Illinois424,217424,217
Washington45,484522,894
Arkansas12,824619,792
Ohio1019,0031019,003
Louisiana413,629413,629
Texas59,24359,243
Indiana56,53256,532
Oregon110054,846
Minnesota24,10424,104
Oklahoma24,07224,072
Mississippi53,71653,716
South Carolina338583,596
Tennessee22,31222,312
New Mexico21,64421,644
Alaska31,24931,249
Montana29502950
Kentucky12731273
North Carolina11341134
Delaware190190
Idaho160160
Maine140140

Utilities with the highest amounts of cadmium, 2021-2023

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
Utility Location Tests Average level People served
Benton City WaterPo Box 70, WA1 of 29.00 ppb5,305
Moccasin Gap_scott County Public Service Authority*Weber City, VA1 of 36.33 ppb5,412
MendotaAbingdon, VA1 of 36.33 ppb142
Ecv/scott County Public Service AuthorityWeber City, VA1 of 25.00 ppb437
Pinedale Estates DwidLakeside, AZ1 of 14.20 ppb25
Viejo San AcacioSan Luis, CO1 of 14.20 ppb45
Capulin Water DistrictCapulin, CO1 of 14.00 ppb250
Berlin Water District # 2Berlin, NY1 of 14.00 ppb700
Sneedville Utility DistrictSneedville, TN1 of 13.30 ppb2,282
Crown King Water CompanyGlendale, AZ1 of 23.00 ppb28
Bailey Place Mobile Home ParkMulberry, FL1 of 13.00 ppb150
Cedar Valley Water SystemDenver, NC1 of 32.83 ppb134
Montclair CondominiumsPoughkeepsie, NY2 of 42.75 ppb1,100
East End WaLa Junta, CO1 of 62.53 ppb70
Park Hills PWSPark Hills, MO1 of 12.52 ppb8,587
Pattersonville Mobile Home #1Wappinger Falls, NY1 of 42.50 ppb81
Desoto PWSDe Soto, MO12 of 132.31 ppb6,400
Hoodview Mobile EstatesHubbard, OR1 of 12.30 ppb100
MayfieldMayfield, NY1 of 12.30 ppb817
Birchwood Manor Mobile Home Community OldFarmington Hills, OH1 of 12.20 ppb713
North Charlotte Water WorksPunta Gorda, FL1 of 12.00 ppb205
Manassa, Town ofManassa, CO1 of 12.00 ppb967
Las Ventanas RanchSan Luis Obispo, CA2 of 22.00 ppb108
Fish Haven, LlcAuburndale, FL1 of 12.00 ppb66
South River W DepartmentSouth River, NJ1 of 11.90 ppb16,000
Sl County Service Area No. 3 - SnowbirdMillcreek, UT3 of 31.73 ppb5,110
Aspen Reflections Landing WaterElk, WA1 of 11.61 ppb49
Del Rio EstatesBurley, ID1 of 11.60 ppb60
Jordanelle Special Service District*Payson, UT5 of 131.49 ppb1,880
North Village Special Service DistrictPayson, UT5 of 131.49 ppb890
Hideout Town Water SystemMarrion, UT5 of 131.49 ppb1,300
Misty Mountain Domestic Water Improvement DistrictLakeside, AZ1 of 11.40 ppb26
Calera Canyon Heights Homeowners AssociationSalinas, CA2 of 21.35 ppb40
Heatherwood Terrace TownhousesMinneapolis, Mn 55435, OH1 of 11.31 ppb435
Highland Park Water Supply CorporationChina Spring, TX1 of 11.30 ppb308
Eustis Eastern Water Treatment PlantEustis, FL1 of 11.30 ppb2,513
Santa Fe Hills SubdivisionAlachua, FL1 of 11.30 ppb200
Laguna Seca Water CompanySalinas, CA1 of 11.30 ppb162
Santa Ynez Roblar Mobile Home ParkLa Canada, CA1 of 11.30 ppb25
Rainelle Water Treatment Plant 2Rainelle, WV1 of 11.25 ppb290
RoscoeAlbany, MN1 of 11.19 ppb104
Marble Water SystemNorthport, WA1 of 21.14 ppb94
Costilla County WsSan Luis, CO2 of 31.13 ppb561
Suncoast Mobile ParkCrystal River, FL1 of 11.10 ppb80
Picciola LandingFruitland Park, FL1 of 11.10 ppb125
Peak Mobile Home ParkHaines City, FL1 of 11.000 ppb55
Kathleen Oaks Mobile Home ParkLakeland, FL1 of 11.000 ppb35
Gretna, City ofGretna, FL1 of 21.000 ppb2,601
Outpost Rv/Mobile Home ParkWinter Haven, FL1 of 11.000 ppb70
Desoto County Water System*Arcadia, FL2 of 31.000 ppb4,563

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

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
South River W DepartmentSouth River, NJ1 of 11.90 ppb16,000
Lockport*Lockport, IL1 of 120.762 ppb19,887
City of WestminsterWestminster, MD8 of 330.615 ppb35,256
California Water Service Co.-travis AFBSan Jose, CA1 of 100.560 ppb15,971
City of BradentonBradenton, FL1 of 20.500 ppb58,584
North Port UtilitiesNorth Port, FL2 of 50.400 ppb57,256
City of Lancaster*Lancaster, PA2 of 80.325 ppb120,000
East Hempfield Water AuthorityLandisville, PA2 of 80.325 ppb20,988
City of American CanyonAmerican Canyon, CA1 of 180.311 ppb20,990
Coral Springs Improvement DistrictCoral Springs, FL1 of 10.300 ppb40,000
Waterbury Water Department*Waterbury, CT2 of 90.222 ppb107,271
Easton Water Div*Easton, MA3 of 30.187 ppb23,112
Roxbury Water Company*Washington, NJ1 of 120.167 ppb11,793
Kent County Water Authority*West Warwick, RI3 of 80.150 ppb88,779
New Port Richey Water Department*New Port Richey, FL1 of 20.150 ppb33,000
Jefferson County PWSD 2*High Ridge, MO2 of 50.126 ppb16,548
Barnegat Twp Water SewerBarnegat, NJ1 of 40.118 ppb20,000
Freehold Twp Water Department*Freehold, NJ1 of 30.1000 ppb29,831
City of Margate*Margate, FL1 of 10.1000 ppb62,254
City of Show LowShow Low, AZ4 of 80.0875 ppb17,139
Indianola Water Supply*Indianola, IA1 of 10.0800 ppb15,833
Weirton Area Water Board*Weirton, WV1 of 30.0700 ppb18,633
United Water Toms RiverToms River, NJ2 of 210.0571 ppb123,184
City and County of Broomfield*Broomfield, CO1 of 20.0550 ppb106,153
Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority*Covington, GA1 of 60.0550 ppb74,364
Peabody Water Department (MWRA)Peabody, MA2 of 100.0530 ppb52,474
Carson City Public Works*Carson City, NV1 of 140.0521 ppb59,000
Poweshiek Water Association*Tama, IA1 of 10.0500 ppb13,920
DouglasDouglas, GA1 of 60.0483 ppb11,255
Stevens Point WaterworksStevens Point, WI1 of 30.0467 ppb24,551
Marion Oaks SubdivisionBelleview, FL2 of 130.0462 ppb33,667
Magnolia Waterworks*Magnolia, AR1 of 170.0365 ppb11,355
Whitewater WaterworksWhitewater, WI1 of 40.0350 ppb14,000
Pike County Water Authority*Troy, AL1 of 80.0338 ppb12,021
City of West RichlandWest Richland, WA1 of 30.0333 ppb17,410
Wilmington Water DepartmentWilmington, MA1 of 100.0300 ppb22,325
Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Div.Bellingham, MA2 of 230.0287 ppb15,390
Eufaula Water WorksEufaula, AL1 of 70.0286 ppb17,970
Newton Water Supply*Newton, IA1 of 10.0200 ppb16,518
Lemars Water DepartmentLemars, IA1 of 10.0200 ppb10,571
Boone County Cons. PWSD1*Columbia, MO1 of 140.0150 ppb24,700
Town of GilbertGilbert, AZ1 of 560.0123 ppb247,600
Arizona Water Company - White TanksPhoenix, AZ1 of 270.0111 ppb18,858
Epcor Water - Agua Fria*El Mirage, AZ1 of 270.0111 ppb80,959
Veolia Water New York - Rockland*West Nyack, NY1 of 700.0103 ppb270,950
Carroll Municipal Water SupplyCarroll, IA1 of 10.01000 ppb10,321
City of NicevilleNiceville, FL1 of 100.01000 ppb21,451
Ottumwa Water Works*Ottumwa, IA1 of 10.00800 ppb25,529
Western Virginia Water Authority*Roanoke, VA1 of 140.00571 ppb182,700
City of ChandlerChandler, AZ2 of 870.00287 ppb247,328

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

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