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What is Arsenic?

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil, but also comes from industrial and agricultural sources. It is a powerful toxin that is frequently found in groundwater supplies.

Prolonged exposure to very low levels of arsenic is linked to numerous cancers and other serious health problems. In February 2002, the EPA lowered the MCL for arsenic from 50 parts per billion, or ppb, to 10 ppb and mandated that all drinking water sold by water providers in the United States must meet the new standard, which we refer to as the Arsenic Rule, that went into effect January 23, 2006.

According to the California Department of Water Resources, the Arsenic Rule also is expected to place over 500 groundwater sources out of compliance in California alone. Compliance with the Arsenic Rule is expected to result in increased regulatory costs over the next 20 years, with the EPA estimating that 5% of the 54,000 active community water systems in the United States, serving approximately 11.0 million people, will have to take prompt action to meet the new MCL. Some state legislatures, such as that of California, currently are discussing a lower standard for arsenic. If California or other states were to set lower standards for arsenic than required under the Arsenic Rule, additional groundwater wells are likely to be impacted and the cost of compliance is likely to increase.

USGS Arsenic Concentration Map

The presence of arsenic vary from region to region. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sampled data from 31,350 wells, finding high concentrations in the West, the Midwest, and the Northeast.

> Next Page: The Dangers of Arsenic


Arsenic
Arsenic Overview Customers News Basin Water's Turnkey Solution The Basin Water Advantage Ion Exchange Technology What is Arsenic? Dangers of Arsenic Other Contaminants What is Arsenic? > Next Page Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil, but also comes from industrial and agricultural sources. It is a powerful toxin that is frequently found in groundwater supplies. Prolonged exposure to very low levels of arsenic is linked to numerous cancers and other serious health problems. In February 2002, the EPA lowered the MCL for arsenic from 50 parts per billion, or ppb, to 10 ppb and mandated that all drinking water sold by water providers in the United States must meet the new standard, which we refer to as the Arsenic Rule, that went into effect January 23, 2006. According to the California Department of Water Resources, the Arsenic Rule also is expected to place over 500 groundwater sources out of compliance in California alone. Compliance with the Arsenic Rule is expected to result in increased regulatory costs over the next 20 years, with the EPA estimating that 5% of the 54,000 active community water systems in the United States, serving approximately 11.0 million people, will have to take prompt action to meet the new MCL. Some state legislatures, such as that of California, currently are discussing a lower standard for arsenic. If California or other states were to set lower standards for arsenic than required under the Arsenic Rule, additional groundwater wells are likely to be impacted and the cost of compliance is likely to increase. USGS Arsenic Concentration Map The presence of arsenic vary from region to region. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sampled data from 31,350 wells, finding high concentrations in the West, the Midwest, and the Northeast. > Next Page: The Dangers of Arsenic
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