What was found in Berlin's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 4120 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 3970 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1140 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 1117 µg/L 86% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 664 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 181 µg/L 1207% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 160 µg/L 200% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 150 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 100 µg/L 143% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 70 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 88 µg/L 147% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 63.179 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 59 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 29 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 14 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 7.97 pCi/L 53% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 6.2 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 5.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 5 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 2 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 1.8 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.7 pCi/L 34% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 1.1 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.6340 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 0.5800 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0095 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0087 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0061 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0058 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0050 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0028 mg/L 19% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 7/7 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Berlin
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION | 390,887 |
| NEW BRITAIN WATER DEPARTMENT | 73,534 |
| MERIDEN WATER DIVISION | 58,441 |
| CROMWELL FIRE DISTRICT WATER DEPARTMENT | 14,316 |
| KENSINGTON FIRE DISTRICT | 7,553 |
| BERLIN WATER CONTROL COMMISSION | 5,128 |
| WORTHINGTON FIRE DISTRICT | 2,875 |
Frequently asked questions about Berlin tap water
Is Berlin tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 40 contaminants in the water serving Berlin. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Berlin?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Berlin, Connecticut to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Berlin's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Berlin include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.