What was found in Bethel's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 583 µg/L 5.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3900 µg/L — ELMWOOD COURT, LLC · 54 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 580 µg/L 5.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3810 µg/L — ELMWOOD COURT, LLC · 54 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 887 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 450 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 493.4 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 22.2 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 208 µg/L — ELMWOOD COURT, LLC · 54 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 69.98 µg/L 87% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 144.375 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 54.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 117.2 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 21 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 80 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 38.502 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 79.6 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 41.38 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 29.28 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.4 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 28.8 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15 µg/L — AQUARION-BERKSHIRE · 75 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.53 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.315 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 12.4385 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: ELMWOOD COURT, LLC · 54 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.54 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.712 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.972 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.77 pCi/L 25% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: ELMWOOD COURT, LLC · 54 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.89 µg/L 5.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.255 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.285 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.7 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.5 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.493 pCi/L 30% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 1 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 1 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 0.7850 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Methoxychlor | 0.2200 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 40 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0054 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0059 µg/L — BETHEL WATER DEPT · 9,507 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2025 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0036 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0034 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2025 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 62,055 people · 2026
Highest in the city: 0.000050 mg/L — ELMWOOD COURT, LLC · 54 people · 2026 | 4/4 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Bethel
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| DANBURY WATER DEPARTMENT | 62,055 |
| BETHEL WATER DEPT | 9,507 |
| AQUARION-BERKSHIRE | 75 |
| ELMWOOD COURT, LLC | 54 |
Frequently asked questions about Bethel tap water
Is Bethel tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Bethel. 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 Bethel?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bethel, Connecticut to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bethel's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bethel include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.