Chemical Information: MCLs, DLRs, and PHGs

Last Update: June 11, 2008

There are about 80 regulated drinking water contaminants.  Each regulated contaminant has 

a maximum contaminant level (MCL), also referred to as a drinking water standard,

a detection limit for purposes of reporting (DLR), the level at which CDPH is confident about quantification being reported by analytical laboratories, and

a public health goal (PHG), an evaluation of the contaminant's risks associated with its presence in drinking water. 

PHGs are established by the the California Environmental Protection Agnecy's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).

MCLs, DLRs, and PHGs are presented here (Excel). Learn more about MCLs and PHGs here.