Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Mercury (inorganic)

Northern Kentucky Water District

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.

 

21

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND30ND
20160.183 ppb63ND - 0.400 ppb
2017ND30ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-05-0193615102ND
2014-05-0193615103ND
2014-05-0193615101ND
2015-05-1294348402ND
2015-05-1294348403ND
2015-05-1294348401ND
2016-05-11950828030.400 ppb
2016-05-11950828020.400 ppb
2016-05-11950828010.300 ppb
2016-06-2995187702ND
2016-06-2995187703ND
2016-06-2995187701ND
2017-04-2095850802ND
2017-04-2095850801ND
2017-04-2095850803ND
2018-04-2596660401ND
2018-04-2596660402ND
2018-08-3096961901ND
2019-04-0397444501ND
2019-04-0397444502ND
2019-04-0397444503ND