Safe Water Package #1

Contaminant

EPA MCL
(mg/L)

Potential Health effects from
exposure above the MCL

Common sources of
contaminate in drinking water

Total Coliform
(includes E. coli)

zero presence

Indicate whether potentially harmful bacteria may be present

Coliforms are naturally present in the
environment.

Nitrates, Total

10

Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome.

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

Antimony

0.006

Increase in blood cholesterol; decrease in blood sugar.

Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder.

Arsenic

0.010

Skin damage or problems with circulatory systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer

Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards, runoff from glass and electronics production waste.

Barium

2

Increase in blood pressure

Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits

Beryllium

0.004

Intestinal lesions

Discharge from metal refineries and
coal-burning factories; discharge from electrical, aerospace, and defense industries

Cadmium

0.005

Kidney damage

Corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from metal refineries; runoff from waste batteries and paints

Chromium (total)

0.1

Allergic dermatitis

Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits

Copper

Action
Level =
1.3

Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress. Long term exposure: Liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson’s Disease should consult their personal doctor if the amount of copper in their water exceeds the action level

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

Lead

Action
Level =
0.015

Infants and children: Delays in physical or mental development; children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities; Adults: Kidney problems;
high blood pressure

Corrosion of household plumbing
systems; erosion of natural deposits

Mercury (inorganic)

0.002

Kidney damage

Erosion of natural deposits; discharge
from refineries and factories; runoff from landfills and croplands

Selenium

0.05

Hair or fingernail loss; numbness in fingers or toes; circulatory problems

Discharge from petroleum refineries;
erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines

Thallium

0.002

Hair loss; changes in blood; kidney, intestine, or liver problems

Leaching from ore-processing sites; discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories

Alkalinity

n/a

High alkalinity water has an objectionable taste

Alkalinity of water is a measure of how much acid it can neutralize.

Calcium

n/a

Calcium is a dietary mineral

Erosion of natural deposits

Hardness, Total

n/a

n/a

Erosion of natural deposits

Magnesium

n/a

Magnesium is a dietary mineral

Erosion of natural deposits

pH

n/a

High or low pH can cause the water to taste or smell bad.

pH is a figure expressing the acidity or alkalinity of water with a scale of 1 to 14 on which 7 is neutral, lower values are more acidic and higher numbers are more alkaline or basic.

Sodium

n/a

Increase risk of high blood pressure; Unpleasant taste

Erosion of natural deposits

Turbidity

n/a

Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. It is used to indicate water quality and filtration effectiveness. Turbid water can cause short term symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

Soil erosion and runoff and discharges

Benzene

0.005

Anemia; decrease in blood platelets; Increased risk of cancer

Discharge from factories; leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills

Carbon Tetrachloride

0.005

Liver problems; increased risk of cancer

Discharge from chemical plants and other industrial activities

Chlorobenzene

0.1

Liver or kidney problems

Discharge from chemical and Agricultural chemical factories.

1,2-Dichlorobenzene

0.6

Liver, kidney, circulatory system problems

Discharge from industrial chemical factories

1-4-Dichlorobenzene

0.075

Anemia; liver, kidney or spleen damage; changes in blood

Discharge from industrial chemical factories

1,2-Dichloroethane

0.005

Increased risk of cancer

Discharge from industrial chemical factories

1,1-Dichloroethene

0.007

Liver problems

Discharge from industrial chemical factories

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene

0.07

Liver problems

Discharge from industrial chemical factories

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene

0.1

Liver problems

Discharge from industrial chemical factories

Methylene Chloride

0.005

Liver problems; increased risk of cancer

Discharge from drug and chemical factories

1,2-Dichloropropane

0.005

Increased risk of cancer

Discharge from industrial chemical factories

Ethylbenzene

0.7

Liver and kidney problems

Discharge from petroleum refineries

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE)

n/a

Possible cancer risk

leaking gasoline storage tanks, pipelines and emissions

Styrene

0.1

Liver, kidney & circulatory system problems

Discharge from rubber and plastic factories; leaching from landfills

Tetrachloroethene

0.005

Liver problems; increased risk of cancer

Discharge from factories and dry cleaners

Toluene

1

Nervous system, kidney, or liver problems

Discharge from petroleum factories; or underground gasoline tanks

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

0.07

Changes in adrenal glands

Discharge from textile finishing factories

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

0.2

Liver, nervous system, or circulatory problems

Discharge from metal degreasing sites
and other factories

1,1,2-Trichloroethane

0.005

Liver, kidney, or immune system problems

Discharge from industrial chemical
factories

Trichloroethene

0.005

Liver problems; increased risk of cancer

Discharge from metal degreasing sites
and other factories

Vinyl chloride

0.002

Increased risk of cancer

Leaching from PVC pipes; discharge from plastic factories

Xylenes (total)

10

Nervous system damage

Discharge from petroleum factories and chemical factories