Type

Contaminant

Possible Effect

Source

Microbiological

Coliform and other bacteria

Dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera

human and animal fecal matter

Giardia lambia

Gastroenteric disease

human and animal fecal matter

Legionella

Legionnaire's disease

surface waters, some water heaters

Turbidity

Interferes with disinfection, filtration

erosion, soil runoff and discharges

Inorganic Chemicals

Asbestos

Cancer

asbestos cement in water systems

Arsenic

Skin and nervous system toxicity

pesticide, industrial waste, smelting

Barium

Circulatory system effects

epoxy sealants, spent coal

Cadmium

Kidney effects

batteries, paints

Fluoride

Skeletal and dental damage

fluoridated water, fertilizer, aluminum

Lead

Kidney and nervous system damage

lead pipe and lead-based solder

Mercury

Kidney and nervous system disorders

crop runoff, batteries

Nitrate

Blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia)

fertilizer, sewage, animal waste

Selenium

Liver damage

smelting, coal/oil combustion

Organic Chemicals

Benzene

Cancer

fuel, drugs, paint, pesticides

Carbon Tetrachloride

Cancer

cleaning solvents

Endrin

Liver, kidney and heart damage

pesticide on insects, rodents and birds

Lindane

Liver, kidney, nervous, immune and circulatory system damage

insecticide on cattle, cotton and soybeans

Methoxychlor

Growth, liver, kidney, nerve effects

insecticide for fruits, livestock and pets

Radon

Cancer

radionuclides

Total Trihalomethanes

Cancer

surface water treated with chlorine

Toxaphene

Cancer

insecticide on cattle, cotton and soybeans

Tetrachloroethylene

Cancer

dry cleaning materials waste, solvents

Vinyl Chloride

Cancer

PVC pipe; solvent breakdown