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EPA Issues Emergency Orders for Multiple Water Systems in California Due to Arsenic

Arsenic Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	2/16/2022
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	EPA Issues Emergency Orders for Multiple Water Systems in California Due to Arsenic
Introduction	LA Testing provides laboratory services and sampling supplies to identify environmental and occupational arsenic exposure hazards to protect the public and to help keep companies and utilities in regulatory compliance.
Huntington Beach, CA, February 16^th, 2022 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued emergency orders under the Safe Drinking Water Act to three mobile home park public water systems located on an Indian reservation in California. The orders require the owners of the three mobile home parks to comply with federal drinking water requirements and to identify and correct problems with their drinking water systems that present a danger to residents. According to the EPA announcement: The systems' current source of drinking water is groundwater that has naturally occurring arsenic. The regulatory Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic is 10 parts per billion (ppb) for drinking water. Arsenic is a known carcinogen and drinking high levels over many years can increase the chance of lung, bladder, and skin cancers, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and neurological damage. “In these three incidents, MCL tests for arsenic ranged from 52 ppb all the way up to 82 ppb according to the EPA,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Under the terms of the emergency orders, the owners of the water systems are required to take a number of actions, including monitoring the systems’ water and reporting findings to the agency. It’s also important that private well owners across California, not subject to EPA regulations, recognize the need to test their water for arsenic.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified arsenic and arsenic compounds as carcinogenic to humans. To help identify potential arsenic exposure risks in California, the water quality experts at LA Testing provide contaminant testing services. These tests are available to water utilities, water system operators, wastewater treatment providers, regulators, private well owners, and the general public. To learn more about testing for arsenic or other environmental, health and safety issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash, and smoke damage, particulates, and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health, and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego, and Ontario.