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AGENT
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ACCEPTABLE or SAFE LIMITS
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SOURCES |
EFFECTS |
| Total coliform bacteria |
Less than 1/100 ml |
Bacteria usually from
environment such as soil,
vegetation, etc. |
May cause diarrhea & vomiting |
| E.coli bacteria |
Less than 1/100 ml |
Also known as enterococci,
typically from feces |
May cause diarrhea & vomiting |
| Nitrate-N |
Less than 10 mg/L |
Runoff from fertilizer use,
leaching from septic tanks,
sewage, erosion of natural
deposits |
May cause infant blood problems |
| Nitrite-N |
Less than 1 mg/L |
Runoff from fertilizer use,
leaching from septic tanks,
sewage, erosion of natural
deposits |
May cause infant blood problems |
| pH |
6.5-8.5 |
Measures the acidity or alkalinity,
pH scale ranges from 0-14 with 7 being neutral
Below 7 is considered acidic
and above 7 is considered alkaline
Naturally rain water is 5.5 on the pH scale
Most water in Maine is below 7 on the pH scale
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Strongly acidic or alkaline water is corrosive
and can dissolve toxic materials from plumbing
(such as copper piping or lead soldering on piping)
that can cause health concerns
Acidic water dissolves copper leaving a tell-tale
blue or green staining on fixtures
Corrosive nature can lead to costly repair
or replacement of plumbing system
Acidic and alkaline water can have an adverse
effect on water treatment systems |
| Turbidity |
Less than 5 NTU |
Small particles of solid matter,
possibly from soil runoff |
Water can appear opaque or cloudy
Sand or lead shavings could be in your water
May cause plumbing, hot water tanks, etc. to plug up |
| Copper |
Less than 1.3 mg/L |
Natural deposits or corrosion
of household plumbing |
Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress
Long term exposure: liver or kidney damage |
| Iron |
Less than 0.3 mg/L |
Natural deposits
Over 25% of Earth’s crust is iron,
so it is naturally one of most common
reasons for water treatment
Iron manifests itself in two forms:
Ferric Iron (suspended solid, visible in water)
and Ferrous Iron (dissolved solid, colorless
until exposed to air) |
Water may appear colored, ranging from
light yellow to bright orange
Stains fixtures and/or clothes
Can impart unpleasant taste, often bitter
or metallic in taste
Will build up in plumbing, sometimes to
the point of completely blocking pipes |
| Manganese |
Less than 0.05 mg/L |
Natural deposits |
Black or brown staining of fixtures
Perhaps black-brown string or yarn-like
substance in toilet tanks
Can impart unpleasant taste, often bitter or
metallic in taste
Higher levels have been linked to impulse
control & short fuse response in children |
| Hardness |
 |
Based on the amount of dissolved calcium
and magnesium present in water |
Can create scales in cold water piping
Heated hard water can build up in water heaters,
boilers, and other appliances; and can boosts heating
bills by as much as 20%
Unsightly film or scum in tub & other fixtures; usage
of more soap is required to clean;
Build up on skin & hair; can cause dry skin, brittle hair,
skin irritation & clogged pores
Graying of whites or loss of brightness in colored laundry;
can cut back life cycle of clothing by 35%
Calcium & Magnesium will be absorbed by foods cooked
in water & foods are more likely to shrink & become tough |
| Chloride |
None per State of Maine
250 mg/L per National Secondary
Drinking Water Regulations
recommendation |
Possible salt intrusion from sea water or
naturally occurring deposits in bedrock |
Salty taste
Well close to road and salts from plowing roads
leaching into well water |
| Arsenic |
Less than 10 ug/L |
Natural deposits or from manufacturing
or herbicides |
May cause cancer/low birth weight
May cause bladder, lung, skin, kidney,
nasal passage, liver and prostate cancer
Recent studies in school-age children have
reported association between neurological
behavior functions and exposure to arsenic
via drinking water |
| Lead |
Less than 15 ug/L |
Corrosion of household plumbing or solder,
erosion of natural deposits, brass alloy fixtures |
May cause brain damage
Delay in physical or mental development in children
May cause high blood pressure, kidney problems in adults |
| Sodium |
Less than 120 mg/L |
Metallic element naturally found
and highly soluble |
Possible salt intrusion from sea water or naturally
occurring deposits in bedrock
Salt runoff from plowing roads may be leaching
into well water (if well is close to road) |
| Uranium |
Less than 30 ug/L |
Natural deposits |
May cause kidney problems
May effect kidneys & blood pressure
Cancer risk is raised
Test for radon if uranium is present |
| Radon |
Less than 4000 pCi/L |
Natural deposits
Radon is a gas |
May cause cancer
Radon Gas causes lung cancer and
is linked to stomach, liver and brain cancer
Chemically damages your DNA
In Maine about 25% of lung cancer deaths
have been linked to homes with radon gas
in the well water
Up to 1/3 of all wells in Maine have radon gas
of over 4000 pCi/L
10,000 pCi/L of radon gas in water
= 1 pCi/L in air
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| Tannins |
None |
Comes from vegetation |
As little as .02 and will notice tea colored water
Causes staining and/or build up on fixtures
& in plumbing
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| Fluoride |
Between 0.6 mg/L and 1.7 mg/L |
Natural deposits |
If too little, increased chance of tooth decay
and if too much, stained teeth |
| Sulfur |
None |
Hydrogen sulfide gas |
Water will smell like rotten eggs
Odor will be evident at levels as low as 0.5 mg/L |
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