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 โCommon 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.
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Water filters certified under the following NSF standards are effective at removing Arsenic:
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Where is Arsenic Found?
Arsenic has been detected above EPA health guidelines in 2,628 cities serving 217.0M people across the US.
and 2,623 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
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