Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Mercury (inorganic)

City of Nampa

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND50ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND30ND
2022ND50ND
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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-10-08I1850016ND
2018-10-08I1850026ND
2018-10-08I1850024ND
2018-10-08I1850023ND
2018-10-08I1850028ND
2018-10-08I1850109ND
2019-07-18I1935059ND
2019-07-18I1935058ND
2019-07-18I1935056ND
2019-07-18I1935089ND
2019-07-18I1935088ND
2021-03-08I2110611ND
2021-03-08I2110615ND
2021-11-09I2160871ND
2022-08-18I2240735ND
2022-10-21I2252720ND
2022-11-16I2256979ND
2022-11-16I2256980ND
2022-11-18I2256985ND
2023-08-15I2317348-01ND