Skip directly to searchSkip directly to the site navigationSkip directly to the page's main content

Complete Health Indicator Report of Drinking Water: Arsenic

Definition

__Mean Arsenic Levels for Utah__[[br]] 1) Yearly distribution of number of community water systems (CWS) by mean arsenic concentration (cut-points: <=10, >10 ug/L arsenic, Not Detected ug/L arsenic) 2) Yearly distribution of number of people served by CWS by mean arsenic concentration (cut-points: <=10, >10 ug/L arsenic, Not Detected ug/L arsenic) __Maximum Arsenic Levels for Utah__[[br]] 3) Yearly distribution of number of CWS by maximum arsenic concentration (cut-points: <=10, >10 ug/L arsenic, Not Detected ug/L arsenic) 4) Yearly distribution of number of people served by CWS by maximum arsenic concentration (cut-points: <=10, >10 ug/L arsenic, Not Detected ug/L arsenic)

Numerator

1) Count of community water systems categorized by mean arsenic concentration for each year reported 2) Number of people served by community water systems categorized by mean arsenic concentration for each year reported 3) Count of community water systems categorized by maximum arsenic concentration for each year reported 4) Number of people served by community water systems categorized by maximum arsenic concentration for each year reported

Denominator

Not applicable.

Data Interpretation Issues

Some community water systems with higher average arsenic levels are due to higher levels in earlier years before the arsenic standard was changed. Some of these arsenic levels have since been lowered. Data reported to other sources, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, may differ slightly. This data does not include information about private water sources such as well water or tribal water systems. These calculations include all available data which varies by year and water system. Population data for each community water system are estimated based on number of connections. Inconsistent outliers and other data errors were not included in calculations in order to provide a more accurate representation of water quality. A community water system is a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Measures do not account for the variability in sampling, numbers of sampling repeats, and variability within systems. Concentrations in drinking water cannot be directly converted to exposure because water consumption varies from person to person, including other factors such as climate, level of physical activity, and medical conditions that require increased water intake (EPA 2004). Due to errors in estimating populations, the measures may overestimate or underestimate the number of affected people. (From National Environmental Public Heath Tracking Network [NEPTHN] Nationally Consistent Data and Measures [NCDM] arsenic indicator document version 5)

Why Is This Important?

People drink and use water every day. The majority of Americans are provided with high quality drinking water. About 90% of people in the U.S. get their water from a community water system versus a smaller water supply, such as a household well. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets regulations for treating and monitoring drinking water delivered by community water systems. Currently, there are water quality standards and monitoring requirements for over 90 contaminants. Drinking water protection programs play a critical role in ensuring high quality drinking water and protecting the public's health. Because people drink and use water every day, contaminants in drinking water have the potential to affect many people. The number of people served by a community water system varies from as low as 25 to hundreds of thousands. Community water systems in the U.S. provide among the highest quality drinking water in the world. However, some contaminants are present at low levels and it is still possible that drinking water can become contaminated at higher levels. If a person is exposed to a high enough level of a contaminant, they may become ill. Arsenic is a toxic chemical element that is naturally found in the Earth's crust such as soil, rocks, and minerals. There is a wide variation in the levels of arsenic found in drinking water systems and private water supplies across the nation. The majority of health risks of arsenic exposure over time are long-term, although some short-term exposures at high doses can also cause adverse health effects. People who drink water containing arsenic in excess of regulatory standards over many years can experience a variety of health problems that include thickening and discoloration of the skin; stomach pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; liver problems; cardiovascular, pulmonary, immunological, neurological, reproductive, and endocrine problems; and cancer of the bladder, skin, kidney, liver, and lung. Before 2006, community water systems were not supposed to exceed 50 micrograms of arsenic per liter. In 2006, this standard changed and currently community water systems are not supposed to exceed 10 micrograms of arsenic per liter in order to reduce adverse health effects from arsenic exposures. Arsenic compounds (As [III] and As [V]) are found in both ground water and surface waters. The primary sources are geologic formations where arsenic can be dissolved. Higher levels of arsenic tend to be found in ground water (aquifers) as compared to surface waters, such as lakes and rivers. (Modified from National Environmental Public Heath Tracking Network [NEPTHN] Nationally Consistent Data and Measures [NCDM] arsenic indicator document version 5)


Related Indicators

Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:




Graphical Data Views

Yearly Distribution of Number of Community Water Systems (CWS) by Mean Arsenic Concentration (ug/L), Utah, 1999-2019

::chart - missing::

Arsenic Concentration (ug/L)YearNumber of CWS
Record Count: 153
<=1019994
<=10200094
<=102001111
<=102002105
<=102003105
<=102004100
<=10200593
<=10200674
<=10200792
<=102008103
<=102009103
<=102010183
<=102011101
<=10201294
<=102013207
<=10201490
<=10201582
<=102016264
<=10201790
<=102018110
<=102019307
>1019991
>10200012
>1020018
>10200212
>1020039
>1020049
>10200511
>1020066
>1020074
>1020089
>1020094
>1020107
>1020119
>10201212
>1020139
>1020144
>1020156
>1020163
>1020171
>1020183
>10201912
Not Detected19997
Not Detected200057
Not Detected200142
Not Detected200259
Not Detected200333
Not Detected200433
Not Detected200540
Not Detected200655
Not Detected200730
Not Detected200830
Not Detected200936
Not Detected201040
Not Detected201126
Not Detected201214
Not Detected201332
Not Detected201413
Not Detected201511
Not Detected201635
Not Detected201717
Not Detected201824
Not Detected201976

Data Source

Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water, Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)


Yearly Distribution of Number of People Served by Community Water Systems (CWS) by Mean Arsenic Concentration (ug/L), Utah, 1999-2019

::chart - missing::

Arsenic Concentration (ug/L)YearNumber of People Served by CWS
Record Count: 153
<=1019993,265
<=1020001,196,809
<=1020011,462,131
<=1020021,125,503
<=1020031,280,324
<=1020041,496,552
<=1020051,310,131
<=1020061,094,516
<=1020071,279,539
<=102008949,103
<=1020091,246,702
<=1020101,810,887
<=1020111,673,938
<=1020121,118,942
<=1020131,744,956
<=1020141,577,040
<=1020151,725,781
<=1020162,157,553
<=1020171,379,215
<=1020181,454,493
<=1020192,139,281
>10199965
>102000227,488
>10200172,096
>10200289,434
>10200377,355
>10200471,252
>10200532,741
>1020068,678
>1020074,498
>10200836,523
>102009176,620
>1020101,133
>1020116,367
>1020125,633
>1020135,302
>1020146,776
>10201581,545
>102016344
>10201740
>102018442
>10201987,208
Not Detected199925,945
Not Detected2000109,551
Not Detected2001306,657
Not Detected2002390,534
Not Detected2003179,317
Not Detected2004226,295
Not Detected2005223,666
Not Detected2006467,233
Not Detected2007385,312
Not Detected2008227,493
Not Detected2009200,715
Not Detected2010205,246
Not Detected2011145,989
Not Detected2012255,473
Not Detected2013217,840
Not Detected201443,281
Not Detected2015155,016
Not Detected2016296,747
Not Detected2017772,067
Not Detected2018273,555
Not Detected2019164,132

Data Source

Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water, Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)


Yearly Distribution of Number of Community Water Systems (CWS) by Maximum Arsenic Concentration (ug/L), Utah, 1999-2019

::chart - missing::

Arsenic Concentration (ug/L)YearNumber of CWS
Record Count: 153
<=1019994
<=10200094
<=102001109
<=102002103
<=102003102
<=10200496
<=10200590
<=10200670
<=10200788
<=10200896
<=10200997
<=102010178
<=10201195
<=10201277
<=102013194
<=10201476
<=10201570
<=102016249
<=10201773
<=10201894
<=102019285
>1019991
>10200012
>10200110
>10200214
>10200312
>10200413
>10200514
>10200610
>1020078
>10200816
>10200910
>10201012
>10201115
>10201229
>10201322
>10201418
>10201518
>10201618
>10201718
>10201819
>10201934
Not Detected19997
Not Detected200057
Not Detected200142
Not Detected200259
Not Detected200333
Not Detected200433
Not Detected200540
Not Detected200655
Not Detected200730
Not Detected200830
Not Detected200936
Not Detected201040
Not Detected201126
Not Detected201214
Not Detected201332
Not Detected201413
Not Detected201511
Not Detected201635
Not Detected201717
Not Detected201824
Not Detected201976

Data Source

Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water, Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)


Yearly Distribution of Number of People Served by Community Water Systems (CWS) by Maximum Arsenic Concentration (ug/L), Utah, 1999-2019

::chart - missing::

Arsenic Concentration (ug/L)YearNumber of People Served by CWS
Record Count: 153
<=1019993,265
<=1020001,196,809
<=1020011,388,731
<=1020021,057,803
<=1020031,196,824
<=1020041,322,950
<=1020051,133,003
<=1020061,069,156
<=1020071,225,069
<=102008819,263
<=1020091,178,737
<=1020101,792,087
<=1020111,576,835
<=1020121,002,343
<=1020131,686,020
<=1020141,519,391
<=1020151,598,605
<=1020162,005,445
<=1020171,002,607
<=1020181,292,565
<=1020192,039,070
>10199965
>102000227,488
>102001145,496
>102002157,134
>102003160,855
>102004244,854
>102005209,869
>10200634,038
>10200758,968
>102008166,363
>102009244,585
>10201019,933
>102011103,470
>102012122,232
>10201364,238
>10201464,425
>102015208,721
>102016152,452
>102017376,648
>102018162,370
>102019187,419
Not Detected199925,945
Not Detected2000109,551
Not Detected2001306,657
Not Detected2002390,534
Not Detected2003179,317
Not Detected2004226,295
Not Detected2005223,666
Not Detected2006467,233
Not Detected2007385,312
Not Detected2008227,493
Not Detected2009200,715
Not Detected2010205,246
Not Detected2011145,989
Not Detected2012255,473
Not Detected2013217,840
Not Detected201443,281
Not Detected2015155,016
Not Detected2016296,747
Not Detected2017772,067
Not Detected2018273,555
Not Detected2019164,132

Data Source

Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water, Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)

References and Community Resources

Utah Department of Environmental Quality[[br]] [http://www.drinkingwater.utah.gov] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency[[br]] [http://water.epa.gov/drink] Utah Environmental Public Health Tracking Program[[br]] [http://epht.health.utah.gov/epht-view/topic/DrinkingWater.html] National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program[[br]] [http://www.cdc.gov/ephtracking] Citations:[[br]] U.S. EPA 2004. Estimated Per Capita Water Ingestion and Body Weight in the United States: An Update. EPA-822-R-00-001. October 2004.

More Resources and Links

Evidence-based community health improvement ideas and interventions may be found at the following sites:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER Database, a system for disseminating public health data and information.
  • United States Census Bureau data dashboard.
  • Utah healthy Places Index, evidence-based and peer-reviewed tool, supports efforts to prioritize equitable community investments, develop critical programs and policies across the state, and much more.
  • County Health Rankings
  • Kaiser Family Foundation's StateHealthFacts.org
  • Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.



Page Content Updated On 05/07/2021, Published on 05/20/2021
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Fri, 29 March 2024 8:20:54 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Thu, 20 May 2021 16:32:36 MDT