Other recommended actions for
private wells

What you should
know about Arsenic

The Office of Environmental Health
recommends that all private wells be
tested at least once per year for
bacteria and nitrate contamination from
septic systems.

in the groundwater
Office of Environmental Health
150 N 18th Avenue, Suite 430
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 364-3118
Fax: (602) 364-3146
Website: www.azdhs.gov

Who can I call to talk about my
test results or to get more
information?
Arizona Department of Health Services,
Office of Environmental Health
Phoenix Area: (602) 364-3118
Toll Free: (800) 367-6412

This publication can be made available in
alternative format. Please call the number
listed above.
This pamphlet is funded though a cooperative
agreement with the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Arizona Department of
Health Services

What is Arsenic?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring
metal in soils. Eating foods or
drinking water with too much
arsenic can cause health problems.
In Arizona, arsenic is present in
almost all groundwater supplies.
Because private wells are the
primary source of water for rural
residents of Arizona, making sure
the water is free of arsenic is
important.
The Office of Environmental Health
(OEH) recommends testing all new
wells for arsenic and other primary
metals before the water is used for
drinking or cooking purposes.

How much arsenic is too
much arsenic?
Arizona Department of Health
Services (ADHS) has developed a
simple method to determine if the
arsenic levels are too high, using a
color code. In the following text,
ppb is parts per billion and mg/L is
milligrams per liter.

Green: Less than 10 ppb or 0.01 mg/L
It is OK to drink and cook with this water.
Yellow: 11―200 ppb or 0.011―0.2 mg/L
Consumption of water containing arsenic
in this range will increase the risk of long
term or chronic health problems. The
higher the level the greater the risk.
Don't panic! Remember, chronic
conditions develop over a long time.
Make plans to obtain water from another
source, or install and maintain treatment.
Red: Above 200 ppb or 0.2 mg/L
This water should NOT be used for
drinking or cooking! This level is a cause
for concern and it is strongly suggested
that you obtain your drinking water from
another source immediately that is known
to have no detectable arsenic, or install
and maintain a home treatment device.
Water with 500 ppb of arsenic or less can
be used for bathing, laundry, and
brushing teeth. Children should not use
this water for brushing their teeth.

How can arsenic be removed from
the water?
Arsenic can be removed from the water
by several methods, but the most
common method for household use is by a
reverse osmosis filtration system.

Can arsenic be removed by
boiling the water?
Arsenic is a metal, and cannot be
removed by boiling the water before
use. In fact, boiling the water may
increase the concentration of
arsenic.

How can arsenic hurt me or
my family?
Arsenic in small amounts, taken over
many years, can cause certain
cancers. Skin cancer is the most
common. At high levels arsenic can
cause poisoning, which may result in
acute illness and even death.

Why is this information being
made available?
Information on arsenic exposure
around Arizona has been available
for several years. It is only recently
that people have begun moving into
areas where high arsenic levels may
affect large numbers of people.
Because of these new trends, the
ADHS is providing more detailed
information to the public on how to
protect themselves.