All sources of drinking water contain some naturally occurring contaminants. At low levels, most of these contaminants are not considered by the EPA to be harmful. Naturally occurring contaminants include radon, radium, and arsenic. In addition, people, animals, and industry can also add contaminants to our water supplies. Some of the more common contaminants that can be introduced into our water supplies include microorganisms, pesticides, and nitrates.
Below is a list of many of the common contaminants that can be found in public and private drinking water supplies. In addition, we have also included several chemicals commonly used to treat our drinking water supplies. If you would like to see further information on a specific contaminant, please select that contaminant.
2,4,5-TP
2,4-D
Alachlor
Arsenic
Asbestos
Atrazine
Bacteria
Barium
Cadmium
Carbufuran
Chloramine
Chlordane
Chlorides
Chlorine
Chlorination By-Products
Chromium
Copper
Cryptosporidium
Cysts
Dibromochloropropane
Ethylene Dibromide
Fluoride
Hardness
Heptachlor Epoxide
Hydrogen Sulfide
Lead
Lindane
Mercury
Methoxychlor
MTBE
o-dichlorobenzene
Nitrate
Nitrite
Particulate Matter
PCB
Perchlorates
Radium
Radon
Selenium
Sodium
Sulfates
Styrene
Taste and Odor
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Toxaphene
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Trihalomethanes (TTHM)
Turbidity
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
Xylenes
Zinc
