Barium in New York Drinking Water
New York has 26,516 public water systems. 13060 have recorded barium violations.
Total Systems
26,516
With Violations
13,060
EPA MCL
2
Population Served
19.3M
Barium in New York: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
26,516
Systems with Violations
13,060
Lead Violations
153
Copper Violations
503
EPA Standard
2 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 2 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in New York
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| MANSARD APARTMENTS | 36 | 2433 |
| QUAKER CREEK STORE | 100 | 2073 |
| NEWBURGH CONSOLIDATED WD | 22K | 1884 |
| CAMILLOS AT THE CROSSROADS | 175 | 1733 |
| YANDOS APARTMENTS | 48 | 1667 |
| HUNTERS CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK | 150 | 1596 |
| BARKERS MOBILE HOME COLONY | 22 | 1589 |
| JOHNNYS PIZZERIA | 75 | 1543 |
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 New York water?
New York has 26,516 public water systems. 13060 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 New York 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