Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Mercury (inorganic)

Decatur Waterworks

NOTE: Decatur Waterworks purchases water from Benton - Washington Regional Public Water Authority which is required to test for mercury (inorganic). Sample information shown below was taken by Benton - Washington Regional Public Water Authority.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that also damages the kidneys and other internal organs. Mercury enters drinking water from industrial pollution, mining wastes and coal-fired power plants.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND10ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND10ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 1.2 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1.2 ppb for mercury (inorganic) was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against harm to internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 2 ppb

The legal limit for inorganic mercury, established in 1991, was based on toxicity studies conducted in laboratory animals in the 1970s and 1980s. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

NOTE: Decatur Waterworks purchases water from Benton - Washington Regional Public Water Authority which is required to test for mercury (inorganic). Sample information shown below was taken by Benton - Washington Regional Public Water Authority.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-05-15Y181370009ND
2019-04-02Y190930004ND
2020-04-14Y201070017ND
2021-05-04Y211260044ND
2022-05-04Y221250005ND
2023-04-11Y231020007ND