Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Arsenic

Essex Fells Water Department

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.

 

7

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.393 ppb31ND - 1.18 ppb
2019ND80ND
20200.417 ppb123ND - 2.00 ppb
2021ND30ND
20221.60 ppb111.60 ppb
20230.500 ppb82ND - 2.00 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-08-2118082115-011.18 ppb
2018-08-2118082115-02ND
2018-08-2118082115-03ND
2021-05-1821051741-001ND
2021-05-1821051741-003ND
2021-05-1821051741-002ND
2022-05-17220516012-0011.60 ppb