Definitions and Abbreviations

<: less than

AL: Action level: The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

C/100ml: colonies per 100 milliliters

Gr/gal: Grains Per Gallon: measure of water hardness

EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contamination drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

µg/L: micrograms per liter: a unit of measurement equal to ppb (parts per billion)

mg/L: milligrams per liter: a unit of measurement equal to ppm (parts per million)

MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level : The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MRDLG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

NA: not applicable

ND: none detected

NR: not required

NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit: measure of how light is scattered by particulate matter in water.

pCi/L: pico-Curies per liter: a measure of radioactivity

Range: The highest and lowest measurement reported during the year.

TT: Treatment Technique: a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.