Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

UTILITY

Bangor

location

Bangor, Michigan

serves

2,000

source

Groundwater

data

2018-2023

Overview

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 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 (April 2024 - June 2024), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Contaminants Detected

Arsenic

Potential Effect: cancer

This Utility: 6.05 ppb

1,513x

EWG's Health Guideline: 0.004 ppb

Arsenic

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 1,513 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.004 ppb or less

This Utility

6.05 ppb

Legal Limit

10 ppb

National Average

0.624 ppb

State Average

2.96 ppb

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.

Understanding the Data

The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.

ppb = parts per billion

Pollution Sources

Agriculture

Industry

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

Reverse Osmosis

Ion Exchange

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Potential Effect: cancer

This Utility: 1.88 ppb

19x

EWG's Health Guideline: 0.1 ppb

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

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 19 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.1 ppb or less

This Utility

1.88 ppb

Legal Limit

60 ppb

National Average

19.8 ppb

State Average

13.8 ppb

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.

Understanding the Data

The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.

ppb = parts per billion

Pollution Sources

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

Potential Effect: cancer

This Utility: 11.5 ppb

77x

EWG's Health Guideline: 0.15 ppb

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

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 77 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.15 ppb or less

This Utility

11.5 ppb

Legal Limit

80 ppb

National Average

29.1 ppb

State Average

27.8 ppb

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.

Understanding the Data

The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.

ppb = parts per billion

Pollution Sources

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Includes chemicals detected in 2021-2023 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.

Fluoride

This Utility: 0.664 ppm

No EWG Health Guideline

Fluoride

Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems to prevent cavities and support oral health in people.

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services updated its recommendation of an optimal level of 0.7 parts per million, or ppm, added to drinking water based on the health benefits of tooth decay prevention. Studies have shown that fluoride added to community water systems at this level reduces dental cavities, especially in children.

And studies have conclusively shown that fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash can also provide these benefits.

How your levels compare

This Utility

0.664 ppm

Legal Limit

4 ppm

National Average

0.49 ppm

State Average

0.59 ppm

EWG Health Guideline

Not yet determined

Understanding the Data

The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.

ppm = parts per million

Pollution Sources

Industry

Treatment Byproducts

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

Reverse Osmosis

N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA)

This Utility: 0.256 ppt

EWG's Health Guideline: 1 ppt

N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA)

N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. N-EtFOSAA and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.

How your levels compare

EWG Health Guideline

1 ppt or less

This Utility

0.256 ppt

National Average

0.002 ppt

State Average

0.002 ppt

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for N-EtFOSAA was defined by EWG as based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water.

Legal Limit

None

Understanding the Data

The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2018-2024.

ppt = parts per trillion

Pollution Sources

Industry

Runoff & Sprawl

Filtering Options

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)

This Utility: 0.222 ppt

EWG's Health Guideline: 1 ppt

N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)

N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. NMeFOSAA and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.

How your levels compare

EWG Health Guideline

1 ppt or less

This Utility

0.222 ppt

National Average

0.001 ppt

State Average

0.001 ppt

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for NMeFOSAA was defined by EWG as based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water.

Legal Limit

None

Understanding the Data

The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2018-2024.

ppt = parts per trillion

Pollution Sources

Industry

Runoff & Sprawl

Filtering Options

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Includes chemicals detected in 2021-2023 for which annual utility averages were lower than an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority.

Other Contaminants Tested

Chemicals tested for but not detected:

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic aci, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-D, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, 4,4'-dde, 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA), 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (, Acetochlor, Acifluorfen (Blazer), Alachlor (Lasso), Aldicarb, Aldicarb sulfone, Aldicarb sulfoxide, Aldrin, alpha-Lindane, Atrazine, Baygon (Propoxur), Bentazon (Basagran), Benzene, beta-BHC, Bromobenzene, Bromochloroacetic acid, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroethane, Chloromethane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, Cyanide, Dacthal, Dalapon, delta-BHC, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromomethane, Dicamba, Dichloroacetic acid, Dichlorodifluoromethane, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Dieldrin, Dinoseb, Endrin, Endrin aldehyde, Ethylbenzene, gamma-Chlordane, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorobutadiene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), Isopropylbenzene, Lindane, m-Dichlorobenzene, Methiocarb, Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Molinate, Monobromoacetic acid, Monochloroacetic acid, Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene), MTBE, n-Butylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, Naphthalene, Nitrite, o-Chlorotoluene, o-Dichlorobenzene, Oxamyl (Vydate), p-Chlorotoluene, p-Dichlorobenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, Para-para DDT, Para-para DDT, Pentachlorophenol, Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA), Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), Picloram, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), sec-Butylbenzene, Simazine, Styrene, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Tetrahydrofuran, Toluene, Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Vinyl chloride, Xylenes (total)

Find A Filter

Utility: 

Bangor
view utility

Carbon Filters

FILTERS 2 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+2 others)

Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.

pros

  • Lower upfront cost
  • Reduced maintenance

cons

  • Does not remove all contaminants

Reverse Osmosis

FILTERS 3 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+3 others)

Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.

pros

  • Most effective

cons

  • Higher upfront cost
  • Requires more maintenance
  • Wastes water

Other Considerations

Ion Exchange

Pros: Softens hard water, Reduces some contaminants

Cons: Doesn’t remove all contaminants

Whole-House Filters

Pros: Useful for reducing radiologicals and TCE

Cons: Expensive to install and maintain, Risk of bacterial contamination

Distillation

Pros: Removes heavy metals and harmful microbes

Cons: Does not reduce most contaminants

Explore filter options for each contaminant. See which technologies are effective at reducing specific contaminants to help you make an informed decision on the best water treatment solution for your needs.

CONTAMINANTS ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES activated carbon reverse osmosis ion exchange
Arsenic
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
OTHER CONTAMINANTS DETECTED activated carbon reverse osmosis ion exchange
Fluoride
N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA)
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid
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