Skip to main content
Metals

Arsenic

EPA MCLG

0 mg/L

EPA's health goal is zero โ€” no known safe level of exposure. This is a goal, not an enforceable limit.

Health Effects

Skin damage or problems with circulatory systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer

Source: EPA โ€” National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (retrieved 2026-07-27)

On a private well?

This page covers Arsenic in public water systems. Private wells are unregulated and not tested by anyone unless you arrange it.

Arsenic in private well water โ†’

Common Sources

  • Erosion of natural deposits
  • runoff from orchards, runoff from glass and electronics production wastes

Is your Arsenic result safe? Get a free reading

The EPA MCLG for Arsenic is 0 mg/L. Upload your water test (PDF or a photo) and we'll email a plain-English reading of where your result lands โ€” and every other number โ€” free. Educational only, no medical claims.

Your upload also helps us keep local water data accurate โ€” we only ever share anonymized, area-level summaries.

Upload my test

How to Remove It

Water filters certified under the following NSF standards are effective at removing Arsenic:

Get Arsenic Updates

Research updates, regulation changes, and filter recommendations โ€” in your inbox.

Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.

Where is Arsenic Found?

Arsenic has been detected above EPA health guidelines in 1,576 cities serving 30.0M people across the US.

and 1,571 more cities

About the EPA MCLG

The EPA MCLG is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. It is a non-enforceable public health goal, and is often stricter than the legal limit (MCL) water systems must meet.

Contaminant Type

Arsenic is classified as a Metals contaminant.

Related Metals Contaminants

Check Your Water

Find out if Arsenic is in your tap water.

Search cities for Arsenic data

Test Your Water for This Contaminant

Public water reports may not test frequently enough or at your specific tap. Professional home testing provides current, location-specific results.

RECOMMENDED
Advanced Home Water Test

SimpleLab

Advanced Home Water Test

$269

Comprehensive water analysis testing over 200 contaminants including bacteria, heavy metals, and chemical compounds.

(209 reviews)
7-10 days
116+ tested
EPA Certified
Tests 200+ contaminants
EPA-certified laboratory
Easy mail-in sample collection
Order Test Kit
Advanced Microplastics Test

Tap Score

Advanced Microplastics Test

$829

Cutting-edge testing for microplastics particles in drinking water using advanced laboratory techniques.

(30 reviews)
10-14 days
43+ tested
Advanced detection technology
Comprehensive particle analysis
Emerging contaminant testing
Order Test Kit
Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) Test

Tap Score

Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) Test

$275

Tests for disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water treatment.

7-10 days
9+ tested
EPA Certified
Tests 9 HAA compounds
Identifies chlorination byproducts
Important for chlorinated water
Order Test Kit
EPA-Certified Labs
7-10 Day Results
Easy Mail-In Collection

Get the Weekly Water Brief

One email a week on water testing, treatment, and what water-quality data means for your home.

One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.