| AL - Action Level: |
the concentration of a contaminant which, if
exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. |
| MCL - Maximum Contaminant
Level: |
the highest level of a contaminant that is
allowed in drinking water. MCL's are set as close to the MCLG's as feasible
using the best available treatment technology. MCL's are set at very stringent
levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated
contaminants, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level
for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect. |
| MCLG - Maximum
Contaminant Level Goal: |
the level of a contaminant in drinking water
below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLG's allow for a margin
of safety. |
| N/A - Non-Applicable: |
Non-applicable. |
| ND - Non-Detectable: |
Laboratory analysis indicates the contaminant
is not detected. |
| PPB - Parts Per Billion: |
or micrograms per liter - one part-per-billion
corresponds to one minute in two thousand years. |
| PPM - Parts per million: |
or milligrams per liter - one part-per-million
corresponds to one minute in two years. |
| pCi/L - Picocuries per
liter: |
a measure of the radioactivity of water. |
| TT - Treatment Technique: |
a required process intended to reduce the
level of a contaminant in drinking water. |
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants than the general
population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing
chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other
immune system disorders, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from
infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care
providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by
cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
