Drinking Water Contaminants - Barium Page 2

How much Barium is produced and released to the environment?

The most common ores are found in AK, AR, CA, GA, KY, MO, NV, and TN. Barite was produced at 38 mines in these states in 1973, with Nevada supplying 50% of the tonnage. Barium is released to water and soil in the discharge and disposal of drilling wastes, from the smelting of copper, and the manufacture of motor vehicle parts and accessories.

From 1987 to 1993, according to the Toxics Release Inventory barium compound releases to land and water totaled over 57 million lbs. These releases were primarily from copper smelting industries. The largest releases occurred in Arizona and Utah. The largest direct releases to water occurred in Texas.

What happens to Barium when it is released to the environment?

In water, the more toxic soluble barium salts are likely to be converted to insoluble salts which precipitate. Barium does not bind to most soils and may migrate to groundwater. It has a low tendency to accumulate in aquatic life.

How will Barium be detected in and removed from my drinking water?

The regulation for barium became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples once and analyze them to find out if barium is present above 2 ppm. If it is present above this level, the system must continue to monitor this contaminant.

If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of barium so that it is consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA for removing barium: Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Lime Softening, Electrodialysis.

How will I know if Barium is in my drinking water?

If the levels of barium exceed the MCL, the system must notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV, and other means. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health.

This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Drinking Water Standards:

• MCLG: 2 ppm
• MCL: 2 ppm

Barium Releases to Water and Land: 1987 to 1993 (in pounds)

* Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases greater than a certain amount - usually 1000 to 10,000 lbs.