United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of.Water EPA815-F-99-004
(4607) ^ August 1999
-------
-------
Contaminant MCJ_G1
"
Beryllium
Cadmium
Hi- Regulations
BEBHS5SEI
|QBfi9Ml|9B^BIB
0.004 0.004 Intestinal lesions
Potential Health Effects
From Exposure Above tHeMCL.;"'• '
Common Sources of
-Contaminants in Drinking Water :
0.005 0.005 Kidney damage
Discharge from metal refineries and
'coal-burning factories; discharge from
electrical, aerospace, and defense
industries
Corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion
of natural deposits; discharge from
metal refineries; runoff from waste
batteries and paints
Chromium (total) 0.1
0.1 Some people who use water Discharge from steel and pulp mills;
containing chromium well in erosion of natural deposits
excess of the MCL over many
years could experience allergic
dermatitis
Contaminant
Copper
Cyanide
(as free cyanide)
Fluoride
[MCILG1
t(mg/L)::«
1.3
ry onngggg. Regu|ations
MCL2 Potential Health Effects
.TTV: (hig/L)';' From.Exposure Aboyfi-the MCL;; '
Common Sources of
• Contaminants in Drinking Water '
0.2
4.0
Action Short term exposure: Corrosion of household plumbing
Level=1.3; Gastrointestinal distress. Long systems; erosion of natural deposits;
TT6 term exposure: Liver or kidney- leaching from wood preservatives
damage. Those with Wilson's
Disease should consult their
personal doctor if their water
systems exceed the copper
action level.
0.2
4.0
Nerve damage or thyroid
problems
Discharge from steel/metal factories;
discharge from plastic and fertilizer
factories
Bone disease (pain and Water additive which promotes strong
tenderness of the bones); teeth; erosion of natural deposits;
Children may get mottled teeth, discharge from fertilizer and aluminum
factories ' ' ' -.
-------
•
National Primary Drir^g. Regu|ations
Contaminant
Lead
Nitrate
(measured as
Nitrogen)
MCLG1 MCL2 Potential Health Effects
(mg/L) 4 TT (mg/L)' From Exposure Aboj/e the MCL
Common Sources of
Contaminants in Drinking Water
zero Action Infants, and children: pelays in Corrosion of household plumbing
Level=0.015; physical or mental development, systems; erosion of natural deposits
TT6 Children: Slight deficits in
attention span and learning
disabilities. Adults: Kidney
problems; high blood pressure
Inorganic Mercury 0.002 0.002 Kidney damage
10 10 "Blue baby syndrome" in'
infants under six months-
life threatening without
immediate medical attention.
Symptoms: Infant looks blue
and has shortness of breath.
Erosion of natural deposits; discharge
from refineries and factories; runoff
from landfills and cropland
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching frorr
septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natura
deposits
National Primary Sri
ater Regulations
Contaminant
MCLG1 MCL2 Potential Health Effects
(mg/L)4 TT3(mg/L)4 From 'Exposure AboVethe MCL --.
Nitrite
(measured as
Nitrogen)
Selenium
Thallium
Acrylamide
0.05
0.0005
zero
Common Sources of
Contaminants in Drinking Water
"Blue baby syndrome" in infants' Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching
under six months—life from septic tanks, sewage; erosion
threatening without immediate of natural deposits
medical attention. Symptoms:
Infant looks blue and ;has
shortness of breath.
0.05 Hair or fingernail loss;
numbness in fingers or toes;
circulatory problems
0.002 ' Hair loss; changes in blood;
kidney, intestine, or liver
problems
mm
TT7 Nervous system or blood
problems; increased risk
of cancer
Discharge from petroleum refineries;
erosion of natural deposits; discharge
from mines
Leaching from ore-processing sites;
discharge from electronics, glass,
and pharmaceutical companies
Added to water during sewage/
wastewater treatment
-------
Unary Regulations
> Contaminant
MCLG^i MCL2 ^^pbtfehtfarH^I^MEf^JiSvyF^C^^^^rpesof:
Alachlor.
Atrazine
Benzene
Benzo(a)-
pyrene
Carbofuran
zero
0.003
zero
zero
0.04
0.002
Eye, liver, kidney or spleen
problems; anemia; increased
risk of cancer
0.003 Cardiovascular system
problems; reproductive
difficulties
0.005 Anemia; decrease in blood
platelets; increased risk of
cancer
0.0002 Reproductive difficulties;
increased risk of cancer
0.04 Problems with blood or
nervous system; reproductive
difficulties.
CSntaijiinants if) Dfinking Water, •
Runoff from herbicide used on
row crops
Runoff from herbicide used on
row crops
Discharge from factories; leaching
from gas storage tanks and landfills
Leaching from linings of water storage
tanks and distribution lines
Leaching of soil fumigant used on
rice and alfalfa
Regulations
• Contaminant
Carbon tetrachloride zero
Chlordane
Chlorobenzene
2,4-D
Dalapon
1,2-Dibromo-3-
chloropropane
(DBCP)
zero
0.1
0.07
0,2
zero
'; Flrb.rft Exp'psurS Above' the: MCfc
0.005 Liver problems; increased risk
of cancer
0.002 Liver or nervous system
problems; increased risk of
cancer
0.1 Liver or kidney problems
0.07 Kidney, liver, or adrenal gland
' problems
0.2 Minor kidney changes
0.0002 Reproductive difficulties;
increased risk of cancer
CphiniqivSbUrpes"6f
ContarninantstinClrihkingiVatei;;:*.;
Discharge from chemical plants and
other industrial activities
Residue of banned termiticide
Discharge from chemical and
agricultural chemical factories
Runoff from herbicide used on
row crops
Runoff from herbicide used on
rights of way
Runoff/leaching from soil fumigant
used on soybeans, cotton,
pineapples, and orchards
-------
National Primary Prin^fr Regulations
Contaminant
MCLG1
(mg/L) "
MCL2
TT3 (mg/L)<
Potential Health Effects
From Exposure Above the MCL
Common Sources of
Contaminants in Drinking Water
! o-Dich!orobenzene 0.6
p-Dichlorobenzene 0.075
0.6 Liver, kidney, or circulatory
system problems
I
0.075 Anemia; liver, kidney or spleen
damage; changes in blood
.-^ 1,2-Dichloroethane zero 0.005 Increased risk of cancer
Discharge from industrial
chemical factories
Discharge from industrial
chemical factories
Discharge from industrial
chemical factories
1-1-Dichloroethylene
cis-1,
2-Dichloroethyiene
trans-1,2-
Dichloroethylene
0.007
0.07
0.1
National Primary
Contaminant
•
Dichloromethane
1-2-Dichl-
oropropane
I Di(2-ethyhexyl)
adipate
Di{2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate
Dinoseb
Dioxin
(2,3,7,8-TCDD)
MCLG1
(mg/L)"
zero
zero
0.4
zero
0.007
zero
0.007
0.07
0.1
MCLZ
TT3 (mg/L)4
0.005
0.005
0.4
0.006
0.007
0.00000003
Liver problems
Liver problems
Liver problems
SI
'Ksr R^xni il'^itir^nQ
,^?l r\(^MMtvH,'M' IV
Potential Health Effects
From Exposure Above the MCL
Liver problems; increased risk
of cancer
Increased risk of cancer
General toxic effects 6r
reproductive difficulties
Reproductive difficulties; liver • •
problems; increased risk of
cancer
Reproductive difficulties
Reproductive difficulties;
increased risk of cancer
Discharge from industrial
chemical factories
Discharge from industrial
chemical factories
Discharge from industrial
chemical factories
a
Common Sources of
- . ' Contaminants in Drinking Water |
Discharge from pharmaceutical and
chemical factories
Discharge from industrial chemical
factories
Discharge from chemical
factories
Discharge from rubber and
chemical factories
Runoff from herbicide used on
soybeans and vegetables
Emissions from waste incineration
and other combustion; discharge
from chemical factories
-------
_, . ..
* Wafer Regulations
Contaminant
Diquat 0.02
Endothall 0.1
Endrin 0.002
Epichlorohydrin zero
Ethylbenzene 0.7
Ethelyne zero
dibromide
Glyphosate 0.7
tflCL2 j Potential Health jEffects
'•-.(mg'/jLj4....'-. 'From ExposureiAboyatheMCL .v^
, Common Sources,of,';
; _Cori!amiQant5in>DrinkingWater'', ,
0.02 Cataracts
0.1 Stomach and intestinal problems
0.002 Liver problems
TF Stomach problems;
increased risk of cancer
0.7 Liver or kidney problems
0.00005 Stomach, liver or kidney
problems; reproductive
difficulties; increased risk
of cancer
Runoff from herbicide use
Runoff from herbicide use
Residue of banned insecticide
Discharge from industrial chemical
factories; an impurity of some water
treatment chemicals
Discharge from petroleum refineries
Discharge from petroleum refineries
0.7 Kidney problems; reproductive
difficulties
Runoff from herbicide use
10
ater Regulations
^onl^niinan^ WCI^1 IVICL2
v>uiiiciiiuiic< , , t_. ^ TT^driS/L)4; '.; 'From .Exposure Above .the .{MCtv-,;;-;:;" '",, Contarninarits in Drinking Water /j;
Heptachlor
zero 0.0004 Liver damage; increased risk
of cancer
Heptachlor epoxide zero
Hexachlorobenzene zero
Hexachlorocy-
clopentadiene
Lindane
Methoxychlor
0.0002 Liver damage; increased risk
of cancer
0.001 Liver or kidney problems;
reproductive difficulties;
increased risk of cancer
Residue of banned termiticide
Breakdown of heptachlor
Discharge from metal refineries
and agricultural chemical factories
0.05 0.05 Kidney or stomach problems Discharge from chemical factories
0.0002 0.0002 Liver or kidney problems
0.04 0.04 Reproductive difficulties
Runoff/leaching from insecticide
used on cattle, lumber, gardens
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used
on fruits, vegetables, alfalfa, livestock
11
-------
National Primary Dri
pater Regulations
Contaminant
MCLG1
(mg/L) 4
MCL2 Potential Health Effects
TT (mg/L.)4 From Exposure Abole the MCL '
Common Sources of
Contaminants in Drinking Water
Oxamyl(Vydate) 0.2
Polychlorinated
biphenyls(PCBs)
zero
i
t
I Pentachlorophenol
*
Picloram
Simazine
Styrene
zero
0.5
0.004
0.1
0.2 Slight nervous system effects
i
0.0005 Skin changes; thymus gland
problems; immune difficiencies;
reproductive or nervous system
difficulties; increased risk of
cancer
0.001 . Liver or kidney problems;
increased risk of cancer
0.5 Liver problems
0.004 Problems with blood
0.1 Liver, kidney, and circulatory
problems
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used
on apples, potatoes, and tomatoes
Runoff from landfills; discharge of
waste chemicals
Discharge from wood preserving
factories
Herbicide runoff
Herbicide runoff
Discharge from rubber and plastic
factories; leaching from landfills
12
National Primary Dri:
pat§r Regulations
Contaminant MCLG1 MCLZ Potential Health Effects
(mg/U) " TTV (mg/L)4 From Exposure Abovje the MCL
Common Sources of
• Contaminants in Drinking Water
Tetrachlorpethylene zero
Toluene
Total
Trihalomethanes
(TTHMs)
Toxaphene
none
zero
2,4l5-TP(Silvex) 0.05
0.07
0.005 Liver problems; increased risk
of cancer
1 Nervous system, kidney, or
liver problems
0.10 Liver, kidney or central nervous
system problems; increased
risk of cancer
0.003 Kidney, liver, or thyroid problems;
increased risk of cancer
0.05 Liver problems
Discharge from factories and dry
cleaners
Discharge from petroleum factories
Byproduct of drinking water
disinfection
Runoff/leaching from insecticide
used on cotton and cattle
Residue of banned herbicide
1,2,4-
Trichlorobenzene
0.07 Changes in adrenal glands • Discharge from textile finishing
: factories'
13
-------
fr Regulations
Contaminant
1,1,1- 0.20
Trichloroethane
1,1,2- 0.003
Trichloroethane
Trichloroethylene zero
Vinyl chloride
Xylenes (total)
zero
10
MCL2 Ppt Common Sources of
r3 (mg/L)*:;«Frpm:Exppsure;AJjpve;lhe.MeL;A ';;;•: >.;, '••-..•': .Contaminants in Drinking Water
0.2 Liver, nervous system, or
circulatory problems
0.005 Liver, kidney, or immune
system problems
0.005 Liver problems; increased
risk of cancer
0.002 Increased risk of cancer
10 Nervous system damage
Discharge from metal degreasing sites
and other factories
Discharge from industrial chemical
factories
Discharge from metal degreasing sites
and other factories
Leaching from PVC pipes; discharge
from plastic factories
Discharge from petroleum factories;
discharge from chemical factories
Beta particles and none 4 millirems per Increased risk of cancer
photon emitters year(mrem/yr)
Decay of natural and man-made
deposits
14
Regulations
Contaminant
MCLG1 MCL2 Potential Health Effects
''(nig'/L) 4; TT3 (mg/L)C?fk>m Expp|ure~AbpVe-the WICL'•;;, ;
Common Sources of
^.epntaminantS'in'Drinkjng Water. •
Gross alpha particle none5 15 picocuries Increased risk of cancer
activity per Liter
(pCi/L)
Radium 226 and none5 5pCi/L Increased risk of cancer
Radium 228
(combined)
Erosion of natural deposits
Erosion of natural deposits
Giardla lafnblia
none
Heterotrophic plate n/a
count
TT8
TT8
Giardiasis, a gastroenteric
disease
Human and animal fecal waste
HPC has no health effects, n/a
but can indicate how effective
treatment is at controlling
microorganisms
-------
t .
National Primary Regulations
Contaminant
Leglonella
Total Coiiforms
(including fecal
coliform and £ Co//)
Turbidity
(mg/L) " TT3 (mg/L)4 From Exposure Above the MCL
zero TT8 Legionnaire's Disease, Found naturally in water; multiplies
commonly known as pneumonia in heating systems
zero 5.0%9 Used as an indicator that other Naturally present in the environment
potentially harmful bacteria may and human and animal fecal waste
be present10
n/a TT8 Turbidity has no health effects Soil runoff
but can interfere with disinfection
and provide a medium;for
microbial growth. It may indicate
the presence of microbes.
Viruses (enteric) zero TT8 Gastroenteric disease
Human and animal fecal waste
National Primary DrI
ater Regulations
16
Notes
1. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)—The maximum level of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated
adverse effect on the health effect of persons would occur, and which allows for an adequate margin of safety. MCLGs are non-enforceable
public health goals.
i
2. Maximum.ContaminantLevel(MCL)—Themaximumpermissiblelevelofacontaminantinwaterwhichisdeliveredtoanyuserofapublic
water system. MCLs are enforceable standards.
3. Treatment Technique—An enforceable procedure or level of technical performance which public water systems must follow to ensure
control of a contaminant ;
4. Units are in milligrams per Liter (mg/L) unless otherwise noted.
5. MCLGswerenotestabMedbeforethel986AmendmentstomeSafeDrinkingWaterAct.Therefore,thereisnoMCLGforthiscontaminant.
6. Lead and copper are regulated in a Treatment Technique which requires systems to take tap water samples at sites with lead pipes or copper
pipes that have lead solder and/or are served by lead service lines. The action level, which triggers water systems into taking treatment steps
if exceeded in more than 10% of tap water samples, for copper is 1.3 mg/L, and for lead is 0.015 mg/L.
17
-------
specified, as follows:
Acrylanude=0.05%dosedatlmg^(orequivalent);BpieUorohydrin=0.01%dosed at 20 mg^(or equivalent)
8 The Surface WaterTreatmentRulerequkes systems^ ^
SdS^
ihe&SrZk^^^
S±±i^
*
colifoims are allowed.
young children, andpeople with severely compromised immune systems.
18
Co n t a m i n a lit
Aluminum
Chloride
Color
Copper
Corrosivity
Fluoride
Foaming Agents
Iron
Manganesse
Odor
pH
Silver
Sulfate
Total Dissolved
Solids (IDS)
Zinc
Drinking Water Regulations
NSDWR
0.05 to 0.2 mg/L
250 mg/L
15 (color units)
, 1.0 mg/L
noncorrosive
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
A National Secondary Drinking Water Regulation is a non-enforceable guideline regarding contaminants that may
cause cosmetic effects (such as taste, odor or color). Some states choose to adopt them as enforceable standards.
19
-------
Microbial and Disinfection
Byproduct Rules
Disinfection pf drinking water is one. ef the major public health advances of the. gOth eentury. However, the
disinfectants themselves can react with naturally-occurring materials in the water to form unintended
byproducts which may pose health 'risks. A major challenge for water suppliers is balancing the risks from
microbial pathogens and disinfection byproducts. The new Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts
Rule and Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule together address these risks.
These rules, announced by President Clinton on December 3,1998, are the first two public health standards
issued under the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996. They are part of a group of microbial and
disinfection byproduct rules that will continue to address the "risk-risk balance" between protecting against
microbial contaminants, including Cryptosporidium, and the byproducts of chemical disinfection.
20
Implementation of the IESWTR will increase protection against gastrointestinal illnesses from
Cryptosporidium and other pathogens through improvements in filtration. The rule applies to all public
water systems that use surface water or ground water under the direct influence of surface water and
serve 10,000 or more people. Implementation of the Stage 1 DBF Rule will result in increased protection
from disinfection byproducts; 24 percent average reduction nationally in trihalomethane levels; and
reduction in exposure to the major disinfection byproducts from use of ozone (bromate) and chlorine
dioxide (chlorite). The rule applies to all sizes of community and non-transient, non-community water
systems that add disinfectant to water during any part of the treatment process.
Other rules within the M-DBP Rule Cluster are scheduled to be finalized according to
the following schedule:
August 2000
Filter Backwash Recycling Rule
November 2000
Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water
Treatment Rule & Ground Water Rule
. May 2002
Stage 2 Disinfection Byproduct Rule & Long
Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
21
-------
& Disinfection Byproduct Rules
Interim Enhanced Surface
.Water Tireatrrierit; Rjjlieih
Public water systems that use surface water or
ground water under the direct influence of
surface water and serve 10,000 or more people
must comply by 2002.
Cryptosporidium (treatment technique)
• Systems that filter must remove 99 percent
of Cryptosporidium
• Include in watershed control programs for
unfiltered systems
Turbidity
(performance standards)
• At least 95 percent of monthly readings do
not exceed 0.3 of nephelometric turbidity units
(NYU).
• Maximum level of 1 NTU
Si^ge 1 •Di^irifecjtianls and
Disinfection Byproducts Rule
Community and nontransient, noncommunity
water systems that add disinfectant
to water during any part of the
treatment process must comply by 2002.
Maximum Contaminant Levels
• Totai Trihalomethanes
(Chloroform, bromodichloromethane,
chlorodibromomethane,
and brorhoform) - 0.080 mg/L
• Five Haioacetic Acids
(monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid,
trichloroacetic acid, bromoacetic acid,
and dibromoacetic acid) - 0.060 mg/L
22
& Disinfection Byproduct Rules
I nterimj Enhanced Surf ace
; Water; Treatrrtent RiileS
Giardia lamblla and Viruses
(treatment technique)
Disinfection profiling and
benchmarking requirements
Additional Components
• Continuous monitoring of individual filters
• Prohibits construction of new uncovered finished
water reservoirs
• States, as a condition of primacy, must carry out
periodic sanitary surveys for all systems using
surface water and ground water under the direct
influence of surface water regardless of system
size (every 3 years for community water systems
and within 5 years for non-community water
systems.)
; Stage 1 Disinfectants and
Disinfection Byproducts Rule
• Bromate
(water systems that use ozone)
-0.010 mg/L.
• Chlorite
(water systems that use chlorine
dioxide) -1.0 mg/L
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels
(similar to MCLs but specific
to disinfectants):
• Chlorine - 4.0 mg/L
• Chloromines - 4.0 mg/L
• Chlorine Dioxide - 0.8 mg/L
-------
\ .
I Major Provisions of the Stage 1
\ & Disinfection Byproduct Rules
Interim Enhanced Surface
Water Treatment Rule •
Profiling and Benchmarking
A procedure requiring certain public water
systems to evaluate the impact on microbial risk
before changing disinfection practices to ensure
adequate protection is maintained. The 3 major
steps are:
1) Determine if a public water system needs
to profile based on Total Trihalomethane
and five Haloacetic Acid levels.
2) Develop a disinfection profile that reflects
Giardia lamblia inactivation for at least
a year.
3) Calculate a disinfection benchmark based
on the profile. Consult with the state prior
to making a significant change to
disinfection practices.
! Stage 1 Disinfectants and
Disinfection,Byproducts Rule
Treatment Technology
• Enhanced Coagulation —
addition of a coagulant (alum)
or improved removal of precursors to
disinfection byproducts.
Current Standards
Timetable
REGULATION
National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Radionuclides National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulation
National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations
Thihalomethane National Interim Primary Drinking Water Rule
Fluoride Rule
Phase 1 VOCs & Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring
Public Notification Rule
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
FINAL
December 24,1975
July 9,1976
July 19,1979
November 29,1979
April 2,1986
JulyS, 1987
October 18,1987
June 29,1989
June 29,1989
2£
-------
Timetable
REGULATION
Lead & Copper Rule
Phase II/IIB SOCs, lOCs
*
(38 Contaminants & Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring)
Phase V Rule (18 SOCs and 5 Inorganic Chemicals)
Information Collection Rule
Safe Drinking Water Act Reauthorized
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
FINAL
June 7,1991
January 30,1991 (I!)
July 1,1991(118)
July 19,1992
May 14,1996
August 6,1996
December 16,1999
December 16,1999
26
-------
-------
I
<
In
EPA Office of Ground Water & Drinking Water
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/
Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1 (800) 426-4791
EPA/OGWDW: (202) 260-5543
-------
------- |