Mercury (inorganic)

City of Lake Charles Water System

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

100

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	N/A	0	N/A
2015	ND	32	ND
2016	N/A	0	N/A
2017	ND	6	ND
2018	ND	28	ND
2019	ND	34	ND

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
2015-03-23	35180731005	ND
2015-03-23	35180731004	ND
2015-03-23	35180731003	ND
2015-03-23	35180731002	ND
2015-03-23	35180731001	ND
2015-03-23	35180731005	ND
2015-03-23	35180731004	ND
2015-03-23	35180731003	ND
2015-03-23	35180731002	ND
2015-03-23	35180731001	ND
2015-07-27	35199384001	ND
2015-07-27	35199384004	ND
2015-07-27	35199384002	ND
2015-07-27	35199384003	ND
2015-07-27	35199384005	ND
2015-07-27	35199384004	ND
2015-07-27	35199384003	ND
2015-07-27	35199384002	ND
2015-07-27	35199384001	ND
2015-07-27	35199384005	ND
2015-08-03	35200616002	ND
2015-08-03	35200616001	ND
2015-08-03	35200616003	ND
2015-08-03	35200616004	ND
2015-08-03	35200616005	ND
2015-08-03	35200616005	ND
2015-08-03	35200616004	ND
2015-08-03	35200616003	ND
2015-08-03	35200616002	ND
2015-08-03	35200616001	ND
2015-09-21	35208328005	ND
2015-09-21	35208328005	ND
2017-12-18	AE20279	ND
2017-12-18	AE20283	ND
2017-12-18	AE20287	ND
2017-12-18	AE20279	ND
2017-12-18	AE20283	ND
2017-12-18	AE20287	ND
2018-01-22	AE20445	ND
2018-01-22	AE20433	ND
2018-01-22	AE20437	ND
2018-01-22	AE20441	ND
2018-01-22	AE20445	ND
2018-01-22	AE20433	ND
2018-01-22	AE20437	ND
2018-01-22	AE20441	ND
2018-02-05	AE20561	ND
2018-02-05	AE20555	ND
2018-02-05	AE20558	ND
2018-02-05	AE20555	ND
2018-02-05	AE20558	ND
2018-02-05	AE20561	ND
2018-02-05	AE20564	ND
2018-02-05	AE20567	ND
2018-02-05	AE20567	ND
2018-02-05	AE20564	ND
2018-02-26	AE20786	ND
2018-02-26	AE20783	ND
2018-02-26	AE20789	ND
2018-02-26	AE20786	ND
2018-02-26	AE20783	ND
2018-02-26	AE20780	ND
2018-02-26	AE20780	ND
2018-02-26	AE20789	ND
2018-12-04	B1805821-001	ND
2018-12-04	B1805821-001	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-002	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-005	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-004	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-003	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-002	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-001	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-005	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-004	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-003	ND
2019-11-18	B1905174-001	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-001	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-002	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-001	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-002	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-003	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-004	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-005	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-003	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-004	ND
2019-11-20	B1905305-005	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-001	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-006	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-005	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-004	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-003	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-002	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-001	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-006	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-005	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-004	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-003	ND
2019-12-02	B1905454-002	ND
2019-12-18	B1905687-001	ND
2019-12-18	B1905687-001	ND