Water Quality Standards & Water Quality Goals

Standards

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. CDHS regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health. Drinking water standards established by USEPA and CDHS set limits for substances that may affect consumer health or aesthetic qualities of drinking water.

Water quality is determined based on the following:

• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs as is economically and technologically feasible.
• Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The level of a disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be exceeded at the consumer's tap.
• Primary Drinking Water Standard: MCLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements and water treatment requirements.
• Regulatory Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
• Notification Level (NL): An advisory level which, if exceeded, requires the drinking water system to notify the governing body of the local agency in which users of the drinking water reside (i.e. city council, county board of supervisors).

Goals

In addition to mandatory water quality standards, USEPA, and CDHS have set voluntary water quality goals for some contaminants. Water Quality Goals are often set at such low levels that they are not achievable in practice and are not directly measurable. Nevertheless, these goals provide useful guideposts and direction for water management practices. The following are the three goals:

• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by USEPA.
• Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set the by California Environmental Protection Agency.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The level of a disinfectant added for water treatment below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs are set by the USEPA.