Is Manganese Regulated?
September 30th, 2020
Manganese is a naturally-occurring mineral found in soil, groundwater, and surface water. It is considered a toxic trace element, a naturally occurring metal that is essential for humans to survive, while also toxic when concentrations in the body are too high. It is naturally prevalent throughout the United States with higher concentrations in the Northeast. A focus on manganese in drinking water for both human health and nuisance effects has led to the development of methods to reduce manganese through treatment.
Is Manganese Regulated?
Yes and No. Though the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) does not have a specific drinking water standard or Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for manganese, it has developed a secondary standard of 0.05mg/L. The secondary standard is non-regulatory but is a strongly recommended target concentration set by the US EPA for drinking water treatment and is based on the potential to cause cosmetic or aesthetic effects in drinking water. Other states are considering or already have tougher standards for manganese based on the impact on children as summarized below.
If you would like more information about manganese or to discuss how manganese may impact your drinking water supply, please contact Michael Ohl, P.E., CFM at 800.725.2550 x359 or [email protected]
