52 EPA-Regulated Drinking Water Contaminants

Profiles for 52 EPA-regulated drinking water contaminants – heavy metals, VOCs, pesticides, radionuclides, disinfection byproducts, and more. Each page covers health effects, sources, the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), and proven removal methods.

Quick Answer

This index links to 52 pages organized into 8 categories for easy browsing.

Heavy Metals (11)

Antimony EPA MCL: 0.006 (see page for units)
Arsenic EPA MCL: 0.01 (see page for units)
Barium EPA MCL: 2
Beryllium EPA MCL: 0.004 (see page for units)
Cadmium EPA MCL: 0.005 (see page for units)
Chromium EPA MCL: 0.1 (see page for units)
Copper No federal MCL
Lead No federal MCL
Manganese No federal MCL
Mercury EPA MCL: 0.002 (see page for units)
Thallium EPA MCL: 0.0005 (see page for units)

Inorganic Chemicals (11)

Chlorine EPA MCL: 4
Chlorite EPA MCL: 1
Cyanide EPA MCL: 0.2 (see page for units)
Fluoride EPA MCL: 4
Lithium No federal MCL
Nitrate EPA MCL: 10
Nitrite EPA MCL: 1
Perchlorate No federal MCL
Selenium EPA MCL: 0.05 (see page for units)
Total Nitrate+Nitrite EPA MCL: 10
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) No federal MCL

Disinfection Byproducts (3)

Dichloroacetic Acid EPA MCL: 0.06 (see page for units)
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) EPA MCL: 0.06 (see page for units)
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) EPA MCL: 0.08 (see page for units)

VOCs (11)

1,1-Dichloroethylene EPA MCL: 0.007 (see page for units)
1,2-Dichloroethane EPA MCL: 0.005 (see page for units)
Benzene EPA MCL: 0.005 (see page for units)
Bromodichloromethane EPA MCL: 0.08 (see page for units)
Carbon Tetrachloride EPA MCL: 0.005 (see page for units)
Chloroform EPA MCL: 0.08 (see page for units)
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) EPA MCL: 0.005 (see page for units)
Toluene EPA MCL: 1
Trichloroethylene (TCE) EPA MCL: 0.005 (see page for units)
Vinyl Chloride EPA MCL: 0.002 (see page for units)
Xylenes EPA MCL: 10

Synthetic Organic Chemicals (2)

Asbestos EPA MCL: 7
Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) EPA MCL: 3e-8 (see page for units)

Pesticides (6)

2,4-D EPA MCL: 0.07 (see page for units)
Atrazine EPA MCL: 0.003 (see page for units)
Endrin EPA MCL: 0.002 (see page for units)
Heptachlor EPA MCL: 0.0004 (see page for units)
Lindane EPA MCL: 0.0002 (see page for units)
Simazine EPA MCL: 0.004 (see page for units)

Radionuclides (6)

Combined Radium 226+228 EPA MCL: 5
Combined Uranium EPA MCL: 0.03 (see page for units)
Gross Alpha EPA MCL: 15
Gross Beta EPA MCL: 4
Radon No federal MCL
Strontium-90 EPA MCL: 8

Microbiological (2)

E. coli EPA MCL: 0 (see page for units)
Total Coliform EPA MCL: 0 (see page for units)