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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Selenium

Waukesha Water Utility

Selenium is an essential element in diets. But too much selenium can decrease thyroid hormone production and cause hair loss, skin lesions and brittle fingernails.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND70ND
2015ND40ND
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND70ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 30 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 30 ppb for selenium 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 hair loss and nail damage.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 50 ppb

The legal limit for selenium, established in 1991, was based on human epidemiological studies of populations exposed to naturally occurring selenium in drinking water. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-03-26776756ND
2014-03-26776754ND
2014-05-07784420ND
2014-05-07784423ND
2014-05-07784426ND
2014-06-11796101ND
2014-06-11796104ND
2015-03-10847850ND
2015-03-10847852ND
2015-03-11847854ND
2015-09-29886381ND
2017-03-28980079ND
2017-03-28980085ND
2017-03-28980082ND
2017-05-02986362ND
2017-05-02986365ND
2017-05-31994538ND
2017-05-31994541ND