Barium in Mississippi Drinking Water
Mississippi has 3,209 public water systems. 1977 have recorded barium violations.
Total Systems
3,209
With Violations
1,977
EPA MCL
2
Population Served
3.3M
Barium in Mississippi: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
3,209
Systems with Violations
1,977
Lead Violations
18
Copper Violations
115
EPA Standard
2 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 2 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in Mississippi
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| WEST JACKSON CO UTILITY DIST | 29K | 3503 |
| TOWN OF ABERDEEN | 8K | 2703 |
| KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE | 8K | 2534 |
| FANNIN WATER ASSN-NORTH | 8K | 1741 |
| LAFAYETTE SPRINGS WATER ASSN | 290 | 1664 |
| CITY OF RIPLEY | 11K | 1655 |
| CITY OF NEW ALBANY | 9K | 1650 |
| BUCKATUNNA WATER ASSOCIATION | 5K | 1603 |
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 Mississippi water?
Mississippi has 3,209 public water systems. 1977 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 Mississippi 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