Arsenic

City of Auburn

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.500 ppb	6	2	ND - 2.00 ppb
2015	0.600 ppb	5	2	ND - 2.00 ppb
2016	0.333 ppb	6	1	ND - 2.00 ppb
2017	0.500 ppb	10	3	ND - 2.00 ppb
2018	0.450 ppb	6	2	ND - 1.60 ppb
2019	N/A	0	0	N/A

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
2014-08-26	53707	ND
2014-08-26	53706	ND
2014-08-26	53723	ND
2014-08-26	53722	ND
2014-08-26	53709	2.00 ppb
2014-08-26	53708	1.000 ppb
2015-08-19	58151	2.00 ppb
2015-08-19	58150	1.000 ppb
2015-08-19	58149	ND
2015-08-19	58153	ND
2015-08-19	58148	ND
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-03		2.00 ppb
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-17		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		2.00 ppb
2017-11-28		2.00 ppb
2017-12-05		1.000 ppb
2018-08-15		ND
2018-08-15		ND
2018-08-15		ND
2018-08-15		1.10 ppb
2018-08-15		1.60 ppb
2018-08-15		ND