Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Mercury (inorganic)

Southwood 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.

 

32

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND60ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND140ND
2022ND60ND
2023N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-01-23ND
2018-02-02ND
2018-04-05ND
2018-05-04ND
2018-05-09ND
2018-07-19ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-02-08ND
2021-03-174093774ND
2021-03-174096998ND
2021-03-184465041ND
2021-03-184465076ND
2021-03-184464988ND
2021-03-234098028ND
2021-03-234096992ND
2021-03-254093768ND
2021-03-254093772ND
2021-03-254093770ND
2021-03-254093769ND
2021-03-254093771ND
2021-03-254093773ND
2021-04-144465081ND
2022-01-274237320ND
2022-02-044243097ND
2022-02-104243081ND
2022-11-034375228ND
2022-11-034375229ND
2022-11-284395604ND