Water Quality Problem: Metals

If your concentrations are larger than these, there is a water quality problem, click here to go to the problem page. 
General levels for protection of designated water use. 
      Designated Use Metal        Water Hardness (mg/l)        Limit (ug/l) 
FW Aquatic Life           Cd     <100           0.7  
               100 - 199         1.1 
               > 200          2.0 
         Cu    <100           6.5  
               100 - 199         12 
               > 200          21 
         Pb    <100           1.3  
               100 - 199         3.2 
               > 200          7.7 
         Hg                0.012 
         Ni    <100           88  
               100 - 199         160 
               > 200          280 
         Zn    <100           60  
               100 - 199         110 
               > 200          190 
 
(Adapted from State of Georgia (1993) and State of Washington (1992)) 
 
 
Designated Use Metal    Water Hardness (mg/l)   Limit (ug/l) 
 
Human Consumption Cd       N/A         5.0 MCL 
         Cu                1.3 MCL 
         Pb (at source)             5.0 MCL 
         Pb (at tap)             0.0 MCL 
         Hg                2.0 MCL 
         Ag                50 
         Zn                5 
 
(Adapted from American Water Works (1990), USEPA (1986) and State of Kansas (1994)) 
 
 
Irrigation     Cd       N/A         10    (53) 
         Cu                200 
         Pb                5,000 
         Zn                2,000 
 
 
Designated Use Metal    Water Hardness (mg/l)   Limit (ug/l) 
Estuarine/Coastal  
Aquatic Life      Cd       N/A         8.5* 
         Cu                2.9* 
         Pb                5.7* 
         Hg                0.025* 
         Ni                8.3* 
         Zn                81.6* 
 
*  Summary of state standards (State of Georgia (1993), State of Florida (1993), State of Washington (1992), State of Texas (1991), State of North Carolina (1991)).
? Information on metals.