Microorganisms

Potential
Health
Effects from Sources of
MCL or Long-Term Contamina
MCLG1(mg/
Contaminant TT1(mg/L Exposure nt in
L)2
)2 Above the Drinking
MCL (unless Water
specified as
short-term)

Gastrointesti
nal illness
Human and
Cryptosporidi (such as
zero TT 3
animal fecal
um diarrhea,
waste
vomiting, and
cramps)

Gastrointesti
nal illness
Human and
Giardia (such as
zero TT 3
animal fecal
lamblia diarrhea,
waste
vomiting, and
cramps)

Heterotrophic n/a TT3 HPC has no HPC

plate count health measures a
(HPC) effects; it is range of
an analytic bacteria
method used that are
to measure naturally
the variety of present in
bacteria that the
are common environmen
in water. The t
lower the
concentration
of bacteria in
 Microorganisms

Potential
Health
Effects from Sources of
MCL or Long-Term Contamina
MCLG1(mg/
Contaminant TT1(mg/L Exposure nt in
L)2
)2 Above the Drinking
MCL (unless Water
specified as
short-term)

drinking
water, the
better
maintained
the water
system is.

Found
Legionnaire's naturally in
Disease, a water;
Legionella zero TT3
type of multiplies in
pneumonia heating
systems

Total zero 5.0%4 Not a health Coliforms

Coliforms threat in are
(including itself; it is naturally
fecal coliform used to present in
and E. Coli) indicate the
whether other environmen
 Quick potentially t; as well as
reference harmful feces; fecal
guide bacteria may coliforms
be present5 and E.
coli only
come from
human and
 Microorganisms

Potential
Health
Effects from Sources of
MCL or Long-Term Contamina
MCLG1(mg/
Contaminant TT1(mg/L Exposure nt in
L)2
)2 Above the Drinking
MCL (unless Water
specified as
short-term)

animal fecal
waste.

Turbidity n/a TT3 Turbidity is a Soil runoff

measure of
the
cloudiness of
water. It is
used to
indicate
water quality
and filtration
effectiveness
(such as
whether
disease-
causing
organisms
are present).
Higher
turbidity
levels are
often
associated
with higher
levels of
disease-
 Microorganisms

Potential
Health
Effects from Sources of
MCL or Long-Term Contamina
MCLG1(mg/
Contaminant TT1(mg/L Exposure nt in
L)2
)2 Above the Drinking
MCL (unless Water
specified as
short-term)

causing
microorganis
ms such as
viruses,
parasites and
some
bacteria.
These
organisms
can cause
symptoms
such as
nausea,
cramps,
diarrhea, and
associated
headaches.

Gastrointesti
nal illness
Human and
Viruses (such as
zero TT 3
animal fecal
(enteric) diarrhea,
waste
vomiting, and
cramps)