Authors: Blake Ross, Extension Specialist, Agricultural Engineering, and Kathleen Parrott, Extension Specialist, Housing.
Publication Number 356-489, April 1998
Table 2. Common Nuisance Contaminants and Their Effects
| Contaminant | Acceptable Limit | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorides | 250 mg/L | Salty or brackish taste; corrosive; blackens and pits stainless steel |
| Copper (Cu) | 1.0 mg/L | Blue-green stains on plumbing fixtures; bitter, metallic taste |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.3 mg/L | Metallic taste; discolored beverages; yellowish stains on laundry, reddish brown stains on fixtures |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.05 mg/L | Black specks on fixtures; bitter taste |
| Sulfates (SO4) | 250 mg/L | Bitter, medicinal taste; corrosive; offensive odor |
| Iron Bacteria | ------- | Orange- to brown-colored slime in water |
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