Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

UTILITY

Molalla, City Of

location

Molalla, Oregon

serves

10,298

source

Surface water

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 Oregon Health Authority, 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

6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA)

Potential Effect:

This Utility: 2.83 ppt

2.8x

EWG's Health Guideline: 1 ppt

6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA)

6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) is a member of a class of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. These chemicals were used in the production of non-stick, stain repellent and chemically inert coatings. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.

6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) was found at 2.8 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

1 ppt or less

This Utility

2.83 ppt

National Average

0.437 ppt

State Average

0.01 ppt

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) was defined by EWG 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

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Potential Effect: cancer

This Utility: 12.8 ppb

128x

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 128 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.1 ppb or less

This Utility

12.8 ppb

Legal Limit

60 ppb

National Average

19.8 ppb

State Average

18.8 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

Nitrate

Potential Effect: cancer

This Utility: 0.467 ppm

3.3x

EWG's Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm

Nitrate

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.

Nitrate was found at 3.3 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.14 ppm or less

This Utility

0.467 ppm

Legal Limit

10 ppm

National Average

0.824 ppm

State Average

0.304 ppm

Health Risks

The EWG health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual 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.

ppm = parts per million

Pollution Sources

Agriculture

Runoff & Sprawl

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

Reverse Osmosis

Ion Exchange

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

Potential Effect: cancer

This Utility: 15.9 ppb

106x

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 106 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.15 ppb or less

This Utility

15.9 ppb

Legal Limit

80 ppb

National Average

29.1 ppb

State Average

24 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.

Other Contaminants Tested

Chemicals tested for but not detected:

1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic aci, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-D, 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA), 4:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (4:2 FTSA), 8:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (8:2 FTSA), 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (, Alachlor (Lasso), Antimony, Arsenic, Asbestos, Atrazine, Benzene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Beryllium, Butanoic acid, 2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoro-4-(trifluoro, Cadmium, Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chlordane, Chromium (total), cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Combined uranium, Cyanide, Dalapon, Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Dinoseb, Diquat, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene dibromide, Fluoride, Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), Lindane, Lithium, Mercury (inorganic), Methoxychlor, Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene), N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N, N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid, Nitrite, Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid, o-Dichlorobenzene, Oxamyl (Vydate), p-Dichlorobenzene, Pentachlorophenol, Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid, Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS), Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA), Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), Picloram, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Propanoic acid, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-3-(trifluorome, Radium, combined (-226 & -228), Selenium, Simazine, Styrene, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Thallium, Toluene, Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, Vinyl chloride, Xylenes (total)

Find A Filter

Utility: 

Molalla, City Of
view utility

Carbon Filters

FILTERS 3 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+0 others)

Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.

pros

  • Lower upfront cost
  • Reduced maintenance

cons

  • Does not remove all contaminants

Reverse Osmosis

FILTERS 4 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+0 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
6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA)
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Nitrate
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)