Water Contaminants

Updated: July 13, 2023

Water Contaminants

CONTAMINANT	Description / Source	Health Concerns / Risks	EPA Max Limit (mg/l)
Arsenic	Naturally occurring in geology; wood preservative and industry	Cause skin disorders and cancer; cancer of the liver, bladder and lungs. Increased risk of diabetes and high blood pressure	0.010
Chloride	Naturally occurs in geology; from road salts; and sea level rise	Causes salty taste; can contribute to increased water corrosivity that can leach metals from plumbing; can shorten lifespan of appliances	250.0
Coliform Bacteria	Bacteria that occurs naturally in the environment and is found on the soil and in vegetation; General indicator of water quality	May cause gastrointestinal distress	0
Copper	Metal that acidic groundwater can leach out of plumbing, pipe materials, or lead solder or brass fittings and components	Gastrointestinal distress; Liver or kidney damage	1.3
E. coli	Bacteria associated with animal or human waste. Some strains are pathogenic to humans	Gastrointestinal illness, vomiting, diarrhea	0
Lead	Metal that acidic groundwater can leach out of plumbing, pipe materials, or lead solder or brass fittings and components	Irreversible damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and blood cells; Irreversible developmental effects make children, babies, and fetuses most susceptible to lead poisoning	0.015
Manganese	Naturally occurring in geology, often associated with iron		0.05
Nitrate	Compound found in fertilizer and manure	Shortness of breath; Blue baby syndrome in infants under 6 months; Health risk to pregnant women	10.0
pH	An indicator of the water’s alkalinity or acidity	Not harmful to human health, but depending on the value, the pH can affect the taste and feel of the water, damage plumbing, and potentially leach dangerous metals from pipes and fittings	6.5 - 8.5
Sulfates	Naturally occurring compound in groundwater	High levels may cause diarrhea, causing dehydration that is especially detrimental to infants and young animals	250.0
Total Dissolved Solids	General indicator of water quality; Measures dissolved impurities	Not harmful to health; High levels may affect the water’s taste	500.0