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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Chlorite

Magnolia Waterworks

Chlorite is a disinfection byproduct resulting from water treatment with chlorine dioxide. Chlorite decreases hemoglobin levels and causes other hematologic effects. Read More.

Chlorite also forms when chlorine dioxide is used as a bleaching agent for textiles, paper pulp, flour and oils, and from the use of chlorine dioxide in food and packaging.� In 2009, California published a public health goal of 50 parts per billion for chlorite in drinking water. California state scientists reported that chlorite causes red blood cell damage, affects sperm and thyroid function, and may alter behavior and neurodevelopment of rat pups exposed in the womb.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

 

69

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

41

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014265.8 ppb129ND - 820.0 ppb
2015121.6 ppb127ND - 397.0 ppb
2016148.6 ppb1210ND - 341.0 ppb
2017163.7 ppb128ND - 584.0 ppb
201874.2 ppb128ND - 174.0 ppb
20199.74 ppb91ND - 87.7 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 50 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 50 ppb for chlorite 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 in blood chemistry.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1,000 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-06140080030356.0 ppb
2014-01-06140080029350.0 ppb
2014-01-06140080028ND
2014-04-01140930012153.0 ppb
2014-04-01140930014365.0 ppb
2014-04-01140930013162.0 ppb
2014-07-01141840026256.0 ppb
2014-07-01141840024ND
2014-07-01141840025185.0 ppb
2014-10-08Y142820007820.0 ppb
2014-10-08Y142820005ND
2014-10-08Y142820006543.0 ppb
2015-01-05Y150080024328.0 ppb
2015-01-05Y150080025397.0 ppb
2015-01-05Y150080023226.0 ppb
2015-04-06Y150990052140.0 ppb
2015-04-06Y15099005436.7 ppb
2015-04-06Y150990053152.0 ppb
2015-07-08Y151900030ND
2015-07-08Y151900031ND
2015-07-08Y151900032ND
2015-10-06Y152820015ND
2015-10-06Y152820013ND
2015-10-06Y152820014179.0 ppb
2016-01-05Y160080044118.0 ppb
2016-01-05Y160080045157.0 ppb
2016-01-05Y160080046160.0 ppb
2016-04-05Y160980022116.0 ppb
2016-04-05Y160980023153.0 ppb
2016-04-05Y160980024225.0 ppb
2016-07-05Y161890001ND
2016-07-05Y161890002138.0 ppb
2016-07-05Y161890003206.0 ppb
2016-10-04Y162800004341.0 ppb
2016-10-04Y162800003169.0 ppb
2016-10-04Y162800002ND
2017-01-03Y170050004ND
2017-01-03Y17005000652.5 ppb
2017-01-03Y170050005249.0 ppb
2017-04-04Y170960033ND
2017-04-04Y170960034102.0 ppb
2017-04-04Y17096003566.7 ppb
2017-07-03Y171870047ND
2017-07-03Y171870048155.0 ppb
2017-07-03Y171870049327.0 ppb
2017-10-02Y172780020ND
2017-10-02Y172780021584.0 ppb
2017-10-02Y172780022428.0 ppb
2018-01-02Y18004001027.7 ppb
2018-01-02Y180040009ND
2018-01-02Y180040011174.0 ppb
2018-04-03Y180950017122.0 ppb
2018-04-03Y180950015ND
2018-04-03Y180950016100.0 ppb
2018-07-03Y181860039173.0 ppb
2018-07-03Y181860038109.0 ppb
2018-07-03Y181860037ND
2018-10-01Y182780017ND
2018-10-01Y182780019110.0 ppb
2018-10-01Y18278001874.1 ppb
2019-01-07Y190100013ND
2019-01-07Y190100014ND
2019-01-07Y190100012ND
2019-07-08Y191920045ND
2019-07-08Y191920043ND
2019-07-08Y191920044ND
2019-10-01Y192770010ND
2019-10-01Y19277000987.7 ppb
2019-10-01Y192770008ND