Metals
Barium in U.S. tap water
286 public water systems across 40 U.S. states report Barium in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 19 sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
A metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge.
Why it's regulated
Long-term exposure above the federal limit can raise blood pressure.
At or above the federal limit (19)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH 2025 annual report | 2025 mg/L | 1012.5× the limit |
| Hollywood, FL 2024 annual report | 2024 mg/L | 1012.0× the limit |
| Mcallen, TX 2024 annual report | 2024 mg/L | 1012.0× the limit |
| City of Baltimore, MD 2024 annual report | 0.0297–395 | 197.5× the limit |
| St George, UT 2024 annual report | 287 ug/L | 143.5× the limit |
| Glendale, CA 2024 annual report | 124 mg/L | 124.0× the limit |
| Burbank, CA 2024 annual report | 0–100 ug/L | 100.0× the limit |
| Ontario, CA 2024 annual report | 80 ug/L | 80.0× the limit |
| Anchorage, AK 2024 annual report | 145 mg/L | 72.5× the limit |
| Scottsdale, AZ 2024 annual report | 79 ug/L | 39.5× the limit |
| Thornton, CO 2024 annual report | 43–52 ug/L | 26.0× the limit |
| Centennial, CO 2023 annual report | 41.3 ug/L | 20.6× the limit |
| Denver, CO 2023 annual report | 41.3 ug/L | 20.6× the limit |
| Lakewood, CO 2024 annual report | 39.9 ug/L | 19.9× the limit |
| Madison, WI 2024 annual report | 21 ug/L | 10.5× the limit |
| Albuquerque, NM 2024 annual report | 0.059 | 5.9× the limit |
| Charleston, SC 2024 annual report | 19 ug/L | 2.7× the limit |
| North Charleston, SC 2024 annual report | 19 ug/L | 2.7× the limit |
| St Petersburg, FL 2024 annual report | 4 mg/L | 2.0× the limit |
Within the federal limit (266)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Arlington, TX 2024 annual report | 0.63 mg/L |
| Norman, OK 2024 annual report | 0.53 mg/L |
| City of Hemet, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| City of Menifee, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| City of Murrieta, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| City of Perris, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| City of San Jacinto, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| City of Temecula, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| East Valley Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| Mills Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| Moreno Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| Skinner Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 209 ug/L |
| Chula Vista Sweetwater, CA 2024 annual report | 0.1–0.2 mg/L |
| City of Cupertino, CA 2024 annual report | 0.18 mg/L |
| San Jose, CA 2024 annual report | 0.18 mg/L |
| Fishers, IN 2024 annual report | 0.35 mg/L |
| Indianapolis, IN 2024 annual report | 0.35 mg/L |
| Morgan County, IN 2024 annual report | 0.35 mg/L |
| Westfield, IN 2024 annual report | 0.35 mg/L |
| Benedictine School, MD 2024 annual report | 0.34 mg/L |
| Beantown Woodley, MD 2024 annual report | 0.315 mg/L |
| Houston, TX 2023 annual report | 0.3 mg/L |
| Jersey City, NJ 2024 annual report | 0.293 mg/L |
| Santa Clara, CA 2024 annual report | 0.14 mg/L |
| Stockton, CA 2024 annual report | 0.14 mg/L |
| Torrance, CA 2024 annual report | 0.07–0.14 mg/L |
| Cedarville Mhp, MD 2024 annual report | 0.276 mg/L |
| Ansonia, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Bethany, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Branford, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Cheshire, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Derby, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| East Haven, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Hamden, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Huntington Beach, CA 2025 annual report | 0.13 mg/L |
| Milford, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| New Haven, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| North Haven, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Orange, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Seymour, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Ventura, CA 2023 annual report | 0.13 mg/L |
| West Haven, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Woodbridge, CT 2024 annual report | 0.077–0.26 |
| Lafayette, LA 2024 annual report | 0.25 |
| Costa Mesa, CA 2024 annual report | 0.124 mg/L |
| Fullerton, CA 2024 annual report | 0.124 mg/L |
| Los Angeles LADWP, CA 2023 annual report | 124 ug/L |
| Pomona, CA 2024 annual report | 124 ug/L |
| Santa Ana, CA 2024 annual report | 0.124 mg/L |
| Chula Vista Otay, CA 2024 annual report | 95–122 ug/L |
Showing 50 of 266. The full list is in the JSON API.
Frequently asked
+What is Barium?
A metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can raise blood pressure.
+What is the federal limit for Barium in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Barium is 2 mg/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (typically a running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+How many U.S. water systems have Barium over the federal limit?
19 of the 286 public water systems on The Water Map report Barium at or above its federal limit, spanning 40 U.S. states. The full list is on this page.
+How can I check if Barium is in my city's tap water?
Search your city on The Water Map (https://www.thewatermap.com/) or browse the list on this page. Every U.S. public water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report that lists every contaminant it measured, including Barium.