JUST THE FACTS FOR CONSUMERS
                                     ARSENIC IN YOUR DRINKING WATER
          is arsenic;
   Arsenic is a toxic chemical element
   that is unevenly distributed in the
   Earth's crust in soil, rocks, and
   minerals.
How does arsenic get into my drinking
water?
Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment and as
a by-product of some agricultural  and industrial
activities.  It can enter drinking water through the
ground or as runoff into surface water sources.
How is arsenic in drinking water
regulated?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water
Act. This law directs EPA to issue non-enforceable
health goals and enforceable drinking water
regulations for contaminants that may cause health
problems. The goals, which reflect the level at
which no adverse health effects are expected, are
called maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs).
The MCLG for arsenic is 0 parts per billion (ppb).

The enforceable standard for arsenic is a maximum
contaminant level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to
the health goals as possible, considering cost,
benefits, and the ability of public water systems to
detect and remove contaminants using suitable
treatment technologies.
Why should I be concerned  about
arsenic in my drinking water?
Although short-term exposures to high doses (about
a thousand times higher than the drinking water
standard) cause adverse effects in people, such
exposures do not occur from public water supplies
in the U.S. that comply with the arsenic MCL.

Some people who drink water containing arsenic in
excess of EPA's standard over many years could
experience skin damage or problems with their
circulatory system, and may have an increased risk
of getting cancer. Health effects might include:
* Thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach
  pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and liver effects;
* Cardiovascular,  pulmonary, immunological,
  neurological (e.g., numbness  and partial
  paralysis), reproductive, and endocrine (e.g.,
  diabetes) effects;
* Cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal
  passages, liver, and prostate.
What is EPA's  standard for arsenic in  drinking water?
To protect consumers served by public water systems from the health risks of long-term (chronic)
arsenic exposure, EPA recently lowered the arsenic MCL from 50 ppb to 10 ppb.

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JUST THE FACTS FOR CONSUMERS
What types of public water
systems must comply with the
standard?
The 10 ppb arsenic standard applies to all
community water  systems.  The standard
also applies  to  non-transient,  non-
community water systems.

How will I know if there is
arsenic in my drinking water?
Every year,  your community water system
sends you a consumer confidence report
(sometimes called  a water quality report),
listing any levels of arsenic detected.  EPA
also requires all  community and non-
transient, non-community water systems to
give you public notice when their water
supply violates the arsenic standard. You will
be given information about what is being
done to correct the  situation.
       How much is 10 ppb?
       10 parts per billion (ppb) of
       arsenic in water means that
       there are 10 molecules of
       arsenic for every
       999,999,990 molecules of
        water. That is roughly
        equivalent to a few drops
         of ink in  an Olympic-sized
         swimming pool.
    What is a community water
    system?
    A community water system is a system that
    serves 15 locations or 25 people year-round,
    including most cities and towns, apartment
    buildings, and mobile  home parks with their
    own water supplies.

    What is a non-transient,  non-
    community water system?
    Non-transient, non-community water
    systems serve at least 25 of the same
    people more than six months of the year,
    such as schools, churches, nursing homes,
    and factories.
   Should I have my water tested for arsenic?
   If your water comes from a municipal or privately-owned water company
   that has more than  15 service connections or serves 25 people more
   than 6 months of a year, they are already testing for arsenic in your water.

   If you have your own household water supply, you are responsible for
   maintaining and testing it. Contact your local health department to find
   out whether arsenic is a contaminant of concern in your area. Your state's
   drinking water agency can give you names of laboratories that are certified
   to test drinking water.

   NSF  International (www.nsf.org/certified/DWTU), the Water Quality
   Association (www.wqa.org), and the  Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
   (www.ul.com/water) web sites list certified home treatment units.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
 Safe Drinking Water Hotline
 1 -800-426-4791
Arsenic in drinking water
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/arsenic
Arsenic health effects
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs2.html
Your private well
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells
           Lh'HlHll SUCd
     Office of Ground Water & Drinking Water
     www.epa.gov/safewater
EPA816-F-07-002
    March 2007

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