United States
                      Environmental Protection
                      Agency
                       Office of Water
                       Washington DC 20460
                  EPA 570/9-91-019FS
                  September 1991
  ŁEPA
     Aluminum
     Chloride
     Color
     Copper
     Corrosivity

     Fluoride
     Foaming agents
     Iron
     Manganese
     Odor
     PH
     Silver
     Sulfate
     Total dissolved
     solids (IDS)
FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL SECONDARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS'
    Zinc
       0.05 - 0.2 mg/l
         250mg/l
       15 color units
          1 mg/l
       non-corrosive

         2.0 mg/l

         0.5 mg/l
         0.3 mg/l
         0.05 mg/l
     3 threshold odor
         number
         6.5 - 8.5
         0.1 mg/l
         250 mg/l
         500 mg/l
         5 mg/l
 Discoloration of water
 Taste; corrosion of pipes
 Aesthetic
 Taste; staining of porcelain
 Aesthetic and health related (Corrosive
 water can leach pipe materials, such as
 lead, into drinking water.)
 Dental fluorosis (a brownish discoloration
 of the teeth)
 Aesthetic
 Taste; staining of laundry
 Taste; staining of laundry
 Aesthetic
 Water is too corrosive
 Argyria (discoloration of the skin)
 Taste;  laxative effects
 Taste and possible relation between low
 hardness and cardiovascular disease;
 also an indicator of corrosivity (related to
 lead levels in water); can damage plumb-
ing and limit effectiveness of soaps and
detergents
Taste
'Secondary Drinking Water Standards are unenforceable federal guidelines regarding the taste, odor color—and
certain other non-aesthetic effects—of drinking water. EPA recommends them to the States as reasonable goals
out federal law does not require water systems to comply with them. States may, however, adopt their own enforce-
able regulations governing these concerns. To be safe, check your State's drinking water rules

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