a) Disinfection byproducts (DBPs): HAA5, HAA9, TTHMs

  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5) in city sampling: LRAA up to 17 ppb (and 19 ppb in the purchased St. Louis water), below the legal limit of 60 ppb.  
  • EWG estimates average HAA5 = 11 ppb and HAA9 = 17.8 ppb, which are 110–296× higher than their health-based guidelines (0.1 and 0.06 ppb).  
  • Individual DBPs like chloroform and bromodichloromethane are 15–19× EWG’s guidelines.  

DBPs are formed when chlorine hits organic matter. Chronic exposure is associated with higher risk of certain cancers and adverse pregnancy outcomes (fetal growth, miscarriage). From a terrain/mitochondrial perspective they add to oxidative stress and detox burden, especially in those with glutathione or methylation issues.

b) Arsenic (in purchased St. Louis surface water)

  • CCR shows arsenic up to 0.388 ppb — legally “safe” (MCL 10 ppb).  
  • EWG’s analysis puts the system average at 0.736 ppb, which is 184× above their health guideline of 0.004 ppb.  

Even low-dose, long-term arsenic is a class 1 carcinogen, linked with skin, lung and bladder cancers, insulin resistance, and vascular dysfunction. For anybody with cancer history, prediabetes, or cardiovascular risk, this becomes part of the “toxic bucket.”

c) Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6)

  • EWG lists Cr-6 ~1.2 ppb with no federal limit, but 60× above their guideline of 0.02 ppb.  

Cr-6 is a DNA-damaging carcinogen, adding to oxidative stress and cancer risk.

d) Nitrate / nitrate–nitrite

  • Local wells show 0.274 ppm, but the purchased St. Louis water hits 2.099 ppm (legal limit 10 ppm).  
  • EWG’s average for the system is 1.02 ppm, about 7× their guideline of 0.14 ppm.  

Nitrates from fertilizer/septic runoff are linked with colorectal and thyroid cancers and, in infants, methemoglobinemia. In adults they’re another source of nitrosative stress.

e) Lithium (unregulated but notable)

  • Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring shows lithium ~45 µg/L in both local and purchased water.  

At these levels it’s far below psychiatric dosing, but chronic low-dose lithium in drinking water is an emerging area.

f) Lead and plumbing issues

  • System-wide, the 90th percentile lead result is 0 ppb, but some homes tested as high as 14.3 ppb (still below the 15 ppb action level).  
  • There was a violation for lead consumer notification, emphasizing the ongoing lead-pipe issue.  

For pregnancy, kids, cognitive decline, or neuropathy, any lead is too much. Risk depends heavily on the individual home’s plumbing.

The issue isn’t that St. Charles water is “illegal” or acutely toxic — it’s that people are getting a daily low-dose cocktail of:

  • Carcinogenic disinfection byproducts
  • Carcinogenic metals/metalloids (arsenic, chromium-6)
  • Agricultural runoff (nitrates)
  • Legacy plumbing contaminants (lead in some homes)

…on top of whatever’s coming from food, air, and personal care products. For patients with cancer, autoimmunity, fertility concerns, thyroid issues, or significant toxic burden, reducing this input is very important.