Chloride
EPA Secondary Standard
250 mg/L
A non-enforceable guideline set for taste, odor and appearance — not health. Water systems are not required to meet it.
What You May Notice
Above EPA's secondary standard, Chloride can cause: salty taste.
EPA regulates Chloride under a secondary drinking water standard — a non-enforceable guideline set for taste, odor and appearance rather than health. Water systems are not required to meet it, and exceeding it is an aesthetic problem, not a known health risk.
Source: EPA — National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (retrieved 2026-07-27)
Is your Chloride result safe? Get a free reading
The EPA Secondary Standard for Chloride is 250 mg/L. Upload your water test (PDF or a photo) and we'll email a plain-English reading of where your result lands — and every other number — free. Educational only, no medical claims.
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Water filters certified under the following NSF standards are effective at removing Chloride:
Filter recommendations for this contaminant are being updated.
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About the EPA Secondary Standard
EPA secondary standards (SMCLs) cover taste, odor, color and staining. They are guidelines, not enforceable limits, and exceeding one is an aesthetic issue rather than a known health risk.
Contaminant Type
Chloride is classified as a Inorganics contaminant.
Related Inorganics Contaminants
Check Your Water
Find out if Chloride is in your tap water.
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