Barium in North Carolina Drinking Water
North Carolina has 23,923 public water systems. 12589 have recorded barium violations.
Total Systems
23,923
With Violations
12,589
EPA MCL
2
Population Served
9.9M
Barium in North Carolina: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
23,923
Systems with Violations
12,589
Lead Violations
494
Copper Violations
908
EPA Standard
2 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 2 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in North Carolina
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| RIDGEDALE HOA | 0 | 7735 |
| CIRCLE H MHP | 68 | 6905 |
| CAROLINA MANOR MHP | 0 | 6493 |
| CONOVER MHP | 69 | 4459 |
| IMAGINATION STATION ACADEMY, LLC | 35 | 3749 |
| ALTAPASS WATER ASSOCIATION | 24 | 3361 |
| WHISPERING PINES MHP #1 | 0 | 3172 |
| TURKEY PEN MHP | 229 | 3092 |
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 North Carolina water?
North Carolina has 23,923 public water systems. 12589 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 North Carolina 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