What was found in Bristol'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 | 4670 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 3600 µg/L 277% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 3330 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1100 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 467 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 150 µg/L 1000% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 101 µg/L 126% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 89 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 65 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 36 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 31 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 11.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 11.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 9 µg/L 180% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 7.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 7.03 pCi/L 47% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 6.5 µg/L 130% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 3.5 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | 2 µg/L 2.9% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.7 µg/L 5.7% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.6 pCi/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | 0.6300 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 0.6200 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0070 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0068 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0060 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0024 mg/L 16% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 3/3 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Bristol
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BRISTOL WATER DEPARTMENT | 52,079 |
| AQUARION-PLAINVILLE REGIONAL | 18,231 |
| CTWC - UNIONVILLE SYSTEM | 14,693 |
Frequently asked questions about Bristol tap water
Is Bristol tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 35 contaminants in the water serving Bristol. 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 Bristol?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bristol, Connecticut to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bristol's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bristol include Nitrate, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, 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.