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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Mercury (inorganic)

Desert Water Agency

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

53

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND10ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND280ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018ND20ND
2019ND210ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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

Date Lab ID Result
2014-06-253761-060-1045ND
2015-09-233761-047-1000ND
2016-05-043761-060-0935ND
2016-05-043761-043-1030ND
2016-05-113761-015-1015ND
2016-05-113761-026-1125ND
2016-05-113761-022-1045ND
2016-05-183761-029-1030ND
2016-05-183761-030-1100ND
2016-06-083761-024-1015ND
2016-06-083761-044-0945ND
2016-06-153761-033-0000ND
2016-06-223761-046-1030ND
2016-06-223761-018-1115ND
2016-06-223761-017-1145ND
2016-06-223761-008-0945ND
2016-06-293761-040-1130ND
2016-07-133761-010-1115ND
2016-07-133761-020-1200ND
2016-07-133761-025-0930ND
2016-07-203761-039-1110ND
2016-07-213761-031-1025ND
2016-07-273761-027-1015ND
2016-08-173761-038-1100ND
2016-08-173761-034-0950ND
2016-09-073761-028-1100ND
2016-09-073761-047-1010ND
2016-09-073761-032-0930ND
2016-09-293761-019-0935ND
2016-09-293761-045-0925ND
2018-07-113761-037-0745ND
2018-07-113761-034-1000ND
2019-05-244790-029-1410ND
2019-05-244790-060-1345ND
2019-05-244790-030-0955ND
2019-05-244790-031-0730ND
2019-05-244790-043-0930ND
2019-06-194790-033-1430ND
2019-06-194790-046-1110ND
2019-06-194790-026-1300ND
2019-06-194790-040-1000ND
2019-06-194790-044-1150ND
2019-07-244790-031-1030ND
2019-07-244790-025-1000ND
2019-07-244790-039-0730ND
2019-07-254790-024-0200ND
2019-08-064790-038-1020ND
2019-08-064790-034-0745ND
2019-08-294790-045-0940ND
2019-08-294790-032-1105ND
2019-08-294790-047-0740ND
2019-08-294790-019-1025ND
2019-10-174790-027-0645ND