Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Arsenic

Harford County Department of Public Works

Arsenic is a potent carcinogen and common contaminant in drinking water. Arsenic causes thousands of cases of cancer each year in the U.S. Click here to read more about arsenic.

 

52

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.400 ppb102ND - 2.00 ppb
2015ND80ND
2016ND70ND
2017ND60ND
2018ND130ND
2019ND80ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.004 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.004 ppb for arsenic 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 cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppb

The legal limit for arsenic, established in 2001, was based on costs for arsenic removal, as calculated at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to arsenic exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-17140117_01_L49018ND
2014-01-17140117_01_L49018ND
2014-04-04140404_01_L50065ND
2014-04-04140404_01_L50065ND
2014-04-14140414_03_L50154ND
2014-04-14140414_03_L50154ND
2014-04-15140415_02_L50154ND
2014-07-11140711_01_L515392.00 ppb
2014-07-11140711_01_L515392.00 ppb
2014-10-31141031_01_203766ND
2015-02-132054742001ND
2015-02-13150213_01_205474ND
2015-04-062063479001ND
2015-04-062063480001ND
2015-04-102064511001ND
2015-07-10L5701346_6ND
2015-08-04L5749969-6ND
2015-10-14L5859932-7ND
2016-01-08L6009600-7ND
2016-01-08L6009600_7ND
2016-04-04L6167674_1ND
2016-04-04L6167673_1ND
2016-04-15L6183269_7ND
2016-07-15L6314547_8ND
2016-10-07L6467188_8ND
2017-01-06L6598139_7ND
2017-04-05L6756571_1ND
2017-04-05L6756568_1ND
2017-04-07L6720051_7ND
2017-07-112245208001ND
2017-10-062267469001_AND
2018-02-122294591005ND
2018-02-122294591001ND
2018-02-122294591004ND
2018-02-122294591002ND
2018-02-122294591003ND
2018-02-122295319001_AND
2018-05-078051043_03ND
2018-05-078051039_03ND
2018-05-0780541044_01ND
2018-09-108084072_01ND
2018-11-07E19001557003ND
2018-11-07E19001557005ND
2018-12-048112831_01ND
2019-02-059020934_01ND
2019-02-059020935_01ND
2019-05-149050790_01_AND
2019-05-149050787_01ND
2019-06-049055328_01ND
2019-07-31E20000439002ND
2019-09-109080712_01ND
2019-12-039110887_01ND