What is the MCL standard?
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations are enforceable drinking water standards expressed as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) or treatment technique requirements. The MCL is the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any user of a public water system.
What does MCL stand for in water quality?
Maximum Contaminant Level
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible.

What is the MCL for iron?
0.3 mg/L
Table of Secondary Standards
Contaminant | Secondary MCL |
---|---|
Iron | 0.3 mg/L |
Manganese | 0.05 mg/L |
Odor | 3 TON (threshold odor number) |
pH | 6.5 – 8.5 |
What is the MCL for chlorine?
80 parts per billion
The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) permissible for total THMs in drinking water by California and federal law is currently an average of 80 parts per billion (ppb) over four consecutive quarters.

What is the MCL for nitrates?
Nitrate has a Specific MCL of 10 mg/L (nitrate, expressed as nitrogen) as defined in 6 NYCRR 700.1. This is a maximum contaminant level for drinking water established by the New York State Department of Health under the State Sanitary Code (10 NYCRR Part 5, Public Water Systems).
What is the MCL for zinc?
5 mg/L
Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites….Table of Secondary Standards.
Contaminant | Secondary MCL | Noticeable Effects above the Secondary MCL |
---|---|---|
Zinc | 5 mg/L | metallic taste |
What is MCL for copper?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for copper at 1.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L), which also may be reported as parts per million (ppm).
What is the MCL for uranium?
30 µg/L
The new MCL for uranium is 30 µg/L.
What is the MCL for arsenic in drinking water?
The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic in public drinking water is 10 parts per billion (ppb).
What is the MCL for copper?
1.3 milligrams per liter
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for copper at 1.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L), which also may be reported as parts per million (ppm).
What is the MCL for combined radium?
5 pCi/L
The maximum contaminant level for combined radium-226 and radium-228 is 5 pCi/L.
What is a safe level of arsenic in water?
0.010 mg/L
What is the regulatory standard for arsenic in drinking water? The current drinking water standard, or Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 0.010 mg/L or parts per million (ppm). This is equal to 10 ug/L (micrograms per liter) or 10 ppb.
What is the MCL for radionuclides?
The maximum contaminant level for gross alpha particle activity (including radium-226 but excluding radon and uranium) is 15 pCi/L. (d) MCL for beta particle and photon radioactivity….40 CFR § 141.66 – Maximum contaminant levels for radionuclides.
1. Radionuclide | Critical organ | pCi per liter |
---|---|---|
2. Tritium | Total body | 20,000 |
3. Strontium-90 | Bone Marrow | 8 |
How many ppm of arsenic is safe?
0.01 parts per million
EPA has set a limit of 0.01 parts per million (ppm) for arsenic in drinking water. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 10 micrograms of arsenic per cubic meter of workplace air (10 µg/m³) for 8 hour shifts and 40 hour work weeks.
What is considered a high arsenic level?
Short-term exposure to drinking water with arsenic levels above 130 ppb (0.130 ppm) has been associated with health effects in adults. *Arsenic can also be measured in parts per million (ppm) or mg/L. For example, 10 ppb is the same as 0.010 ppm or 0.010 mg/L.
WHO guideline for arsenic?
10 μg/L
The current recommended limit of arsenic in drinking-water is 10 μg/L, although this guideline value is designated as provisional because of practical difficulties in removing arsenic from drinking-water.
How do you read arsenic results?
Arsenic is measured in parts per billion (ppb). It can also be measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). For example, 10 ppb is the same as 0.010 mg/L. The safe drinking water standard (also called maximum contaminant level or MCL) for arsenic is 10 ppb.
What is permissible limit of arsenic?
The current recommended limit of arsenic in drinking-water is 10 μg/L, although this guideline value is designated as provisional because of practical difficulties in removing arsenic from drinking-water.