EPA National Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Standards
1,1,1-Trichloroethane -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.2 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system. Causes narcosis and probably cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
1,1-Dichloroethylene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.007 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects kidneys and liver and can cause cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
1,2-Dichloropropane -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.005 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects lungs- liver and kidneys.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
1,2-Dicloroethane -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.005 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Causes damage to kidneys and liver- can cause nausea.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
2,4,5-TP (Silvex) -- Herbicides
Max Level: 0.05 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
2,4-D -- Herbicides
Max Level: 0.07 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
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Acrylamide -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: TT Treatment techniquerequire
Health Effects: Affects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Alachlor -- Herbicides
Max Level: 0.002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Aldicarb -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.003 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Aldicarb Sulfone -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Aldicarb Sulfoxide -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.004 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Alpha Emitters -- Radionuclides
Max Level: 15 pCi/L pico Curies per liter
Health Effects: Probable cause of cancer. Affects skeletal tissue- bone sarcomas-
head sarcomas.
Treatment: RO- ion exchange- lime softening at a high pH.
Aluminum -- Contaminants
Max Level: 0.05 to 0.2 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Discoloration of water.
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
Arsenic -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.05 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Malignant tumors of skin and lungs. Affects nervous system.
Treatment: Activated alumina- ion exchange- lime softening- RO- coagulation
with filtration- distillation.
Asbestos -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 7 MFL million fibers per liter
Health Effects: Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Filtration- RO- distillation.
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Atrazine -- Herbicides
Max Level: 0.003 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Barium -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 2.0 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous and circulatory systems.
Treatment: Ion exchange- lime softening- RO- distillation.
Benzene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.005 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Leukemia- anemia and possibly cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Beta-particle emitters -- Radionuclides
Max Level: 4 mrem millirem per year
Health Effects: Probable cause of cancer. Affects skeletal tissue- bone sarcomas-
head sarcomas.
Treatment: RO- ion exchange- lime softening at a high pH.
Cadmium -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.005 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Kidney disorders- bronchitis- anemia.
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- coagulation with filtration- lime softening-
distillation- corrosion control.
Carbofuran -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.04 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Carbon tetrachloride -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.005 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system- liver and digestive system.
Causes cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Chlordane -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Chloride -- Contaminants
Max Level: 250 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Taste- corrosion of pipes- toxic to plants.
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
Chromium (total) -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.1 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Liver and kidney disorders. Affects skin and disgestive system.
Treatment: Coagulation with filtration- ion exchange- lime softening- RO- distillation.
Color -- Contaminants
Max Level: 15 TCU Total color units
Health Effects: Aesthetic- staining.
Treatment: Filtration- granular activated carbon- chlorination.
Copper -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 1.3 (action level) milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Stomach and intestinal distress. Wilson's disease.
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
Corrosivity -- Contaminants
Max Level: Non-corrosive none
Health Effects: Aesthetic- can leach contaminants into water such as lead-
copper- etc.
Treatment: Neutralization filters.
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Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.0002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Probable cause fo cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Endrin -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Epichlorohydrin -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: TT Treatment techniquerequire
Health Effects: Affects kidneys- liver and lungs. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Ethlyene dibromide (EDB) -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.00005 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Ethylbenzene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.7 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system- liver and kidneys.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Fluoride -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 4.0 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Fluorosis or mottling- a brown discoloration of the teeth.
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation- activated alumina.
Foaming Agents -- Contaminants
Max Level: 0.5 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Aesthetic.
Treatment: Carbon filtration- distillation.
Giardia lamblia -- Microbiological
Max Level: zero Colonies
Health Effects: Stomach cramps- intestinal distress (Giardiasis).
Treatment: Filtration- chlorination- UV radiation- distillation.
Heptachlor -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.0004 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Heptachlor epoxide -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.0002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Iron -- Contaminants
Max Level: 0.3 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Taste- staining- scaling- discoloration of water.
Treatment: Ion exchange- chloroination/filtration- distillation.
Lead -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.015 (action level) milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous and reproductive systems and kidneys.
Causes hypertension.
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- coagulation with filtration- distillation- corrosion control-
carbon.
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Legionella -- Microbiological
Max Level: zero Colonies
Health Effects: Causes Legionnaires' disease- Pontiac fever.
Treatment: Filtration- Chlorination- UV radiation.
Lindane -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.0002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Manganese -- Contaminants
Max Level: 0.05 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Taste- staining- scaling- discoloration of water.
Treatment: Ion exchange- chloroination/filtration- distillation.
Mercury -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system and kidneys.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon- lime softening- RO- coagulation with filtration
and with powdered activated carbon- distillation.
Methoxychlor -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.04 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Monochlorovenzene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.1 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system- kidneys and liver.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Nitrate (as N) -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 10 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Methmoglobinemia ("Blue Baby" syndrome).
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
Nitrite (as N) -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 1.0 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Methmoglobinemia ("Blue Baby" syndrome).
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
Odor -- Contaminants
Max Level: 3 TON Total odor units
Health Effects: Aesthetic- if from H2S- may cause stains and be corrosive.
Treatment: Chlorination- carbon filtration.
Pentachlorphenol -- Herbicides
Max Level: 0.001 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Radium 226 & 228 -- Radionuclides
Max Level: 5 pCi/L pico Curies per liter
Health Effects: Probable cause of cancer. Affects skeletal tissue- bone sarcomas-
head sarcomas.
Treatment: RO- ion exchange- lime softening at a high pH.
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Selenium -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.05 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system. Causes irritation to the mucous membrane
and dermatitis.
Treatment: Distillation- lime softening- coagulation with filtration- RO-
activated alumina.
Silver -- Contaminants
Max Level: 0.1 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Argyria (discoloration of skin).
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
Sodium -- Inorganic Chemicals
Max Level: none (20 mg/l reporting level) milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Possible increased blood pressure in susceptible individuals.
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
Styrene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.1 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous sytem- liver and kidneys.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Sulfate -- Contaminants
Max Level: 250 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Taste- laxative effects.
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.005 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Total colifrom -- Microbiological
Max Level: <1 colony/100 mL Colonies
Health Effects: Affects digestive tract. Presence in water may indicate possible
presence of other bacteria.
Treatment: Chlorination UV irradiation- distillation.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) -- Contaminants
Max Level: 500 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Taste- corrosivity- limits effectiveness of soap and detergents.
Treatment: RO- distillation.
Toulene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 1.0 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system- liver and kidneys. Causes narcosis.
Irritant to respiratory system.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon- ozonation.
Toxaphene -- Pesticides
Max Level: 0.04 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system-respiratory system- liver and kidneys.
Causes anemia-leukemia. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.005 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system.
Treatment: Granular Activated Carbon
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Trihalomethanes (THMs) -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.1 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon- ozonation with UV irradation.
Turbidity -- Contaminants
Max Level: 0.5 - 1.0 NTU Turbidity Units
Health Effects: Interferes with disinfection.
Treatment: Filtration- distillation- granular activated carbon- RO.
Vinyl chloride -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.002 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
Xylenes (total) -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 10 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system- kidneys- lungs- liver and mucous
membranes.
Treatment: Granular Activated carbon.
Zinc -- Contaminants
Max Level: 5.0 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Taste
Treatment: Ion exchange- RO- distillation.
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.07 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects liver- nervous and circulatory systems.
Treatment: Granualr activated carbon.
o-Dichlorobenzene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.6 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects lungs- liver and kidneys.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
p-Dichlorobenzene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.075 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects nervous system- kidneys and liver. Probable cause
of cancer.
Treatment: Granular acitvated carbon.
pH -- Contaminants
Max Level: 6.5 to 8.5 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Corrosivity of water- staining.
Treatment: Neutralization.
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene -- Organic Chemicals
Max Level: 0.1 milligrams per liter
Health Effects: Affects liver- nervous and circulatory systems.
Treatment: Granular activated carbon.
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