City of Clovis Drinking Water Contaminants
The City of Clovis, which serves approximately 110,000 residents in Fresno County, California, has been found to have drinking water with contaminants that exceed Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) health guidelines, according to data from the EWG tap water database.
The City of Clovis has detected contaminants that exceed EWG’s health guidelines, including:
- Chromium (hexavalent): This carcinogenic metal can cause lung cancer and other respiratory problems when ingested or inhaled.
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs): These byproducts of chlorine disinfection have been linked to an increased risk of cancer and potential developmental problems in fetuses.
- Radiological contaminants: The water has been found to contain higher than recommended levels of radium, a naturally occurring radioactive element that can cause an increased risk of cancer when ingested over time.
It is the responsibility of the City of Clovis to address these contaminants and ensure the water is safe for consumption. It is important for residents in the area to be aware of these contaminants and take necessary precautions to protect their health.
The City of Clovis is regulated and overseen by the California State Water Resources Control Board to ensure it meets the health and safety standards set by various health organizations. Residents should stay informed about the water quality in the area and consider filtering their water if necessary to remove these harmful contaminants.
The City of Clovis provides drinking water to its residents, but recent tests conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) revealed that the water contains a number of contaminants that exceed the health guidelines set by the organization.
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) is one of the contaminants found in the water, with a concentration of 0.0392 parts per billion (ppb), exceeding the EWG health guideline of 0.0017 ppb. Exposure to this chemical can increase the risk of cancer 23 times.
Arsenic, a known carcinogen, was also found in the water at a concentration of 0.651 ppb, which is 163 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb. The legal limit for arsenic is set at 10 ppb.
Bromodichloromethane, a potential carcinogen, was detected at a concentration of 1.23 ppb, which is 21 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb. Chloroform, another potential carcinogen, was found at a concentration of 16.3 ppb, exceeding the EWG health guideline of 0.4 ppb by 41 times.
Chromium (hexavalent) was detected at a concentration of 0.915 ppb, which is 46 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb. Dibromochloromethane, another potential carcinogen, was detected at a concentration of 0.225 ppb, which is 2.3 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Dichloroacetic acid, a potential carcinogen, was detected at a concentration of 8.45 ppb, which is 42 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.2 ppb. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) and (HAA9) were detected at concentrations of 13.9 ppb and 11.3 ppb respectively, with the HAA5 concentration exceeding the legal limit of 60 ppb. Exposure to these compounds can increase the risk of cancer by 139 and 188 times, respectively.
Nitrate, a compound that can increase the risk of cancer by 31 times, was detected at a concentration of 4.32 parts per million (ppm), which is 31 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.14 ppm. Nitrate and nitrite were detected at a concentration of 2.89 ppm, which is 21 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.14 ppm. The legal limit for nitrate is set at 10 ppm.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a potential carcinogen, was detected at a concentration of 0.290 parts per trillion (ppt), which is 41 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt. A proposed legal limit for PFOA is 4 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), which are formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water, were detected at a concentration of 28.2 ppb, which is 188 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb. The legal limit for TTHMs is set at 80 ppb.
Trichloroacetic acid, a potential carcinogen, was detected at a concentration of 5.32 ppb, which is 53 times higher than the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.