Barium in Florida Drinking Water
Florida has 19,917 public water systems. 13534 have recorded barium violations.
Total Systems
19,917
With Violations
13,534
EPA MCL
2
Population Served
22.3M
Barium in Florida: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
19,917
Systems with Violations
13,534
Lead Violations
105
Copper Violations
447
EPA Standard
2 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 2 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in Florida
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| DLF PACKING FKA SUNBRITE CITRUS | 70 | 731 |
| ELDER SPRINGS MOBILE HOME PARK | 62 | 728 |
| BURNUP ; SIMS TELCOM OF FLA | 50 | 663 |
| KIDS PARADISE | 50 | 660 |
| LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN CENTER | 120 | 634 |
| HAPPY HOMES MOBILE HOME PARK | 215 | 612 |
| RIVIERA BEACH UTILITY DISTRICT, CITY OF | 47K | 565 |
| LANCE WATER | 63 | 548 |
Health Effects of Barium Exposure
Blood pressure increase
Even near-MCL levels can raise blood pressure
Cardiac effects
Long-term high exposure linked to heart arrhythmias
GI and muscle effects
Can cause nausea, muscle weakness, and paralysis at very high levels
Increase in blood pressure at levels above the MCL. Long-term exposure can affect the cardiovascular system and kidneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there barium in Florida water?
Florida has 19,917 public water systems. 13534 have recorded barium violations based on EPA SDWIS data. If you are on a private well, your water is not covered by these regulations and should be tested independently.
How can I check my Florida water for barium?
Search for your water system using the WaterCheck system lookup, or contact your utility and request a copy of your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR is published annually and lists all detected contaminants, their levels, and the EPA MCLs. For private wells, contact a state-certified lab for independent testing.
What is the EPA limit for barium?
The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for barium is 2 mg/L. Systems that exceed MCLs are required to notify customers and take corrective action.
Barium at a Glance
Source
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits
How to Filter Barium
- +Reverse osmosis and ion exchange systems remove barium
- +Distillation is also effective
- +NSF/ANSI 58 certified RO systems are the most reliable option