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Water: Basic Information about Regulated Drinking Water Contaminants

Basic Information about Cyanide in Drinking Water

Cyanide (as free cyanide) at a Glance

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = 0.2 milligrams per Liter (mg/L) or 200 parts per billion (ppb)

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) = 0.2 mg/L or 200 ppb

Health Effects
Some people who drink water containing cyanide in excess of the MCL over many years could experience nerve damage or problems with their thyroid.

Drinking Water Health Advisories provide more information on health effects

Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number
57-12-5

Sources of Contamination
Discharge from steel metal factories; discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories

List of all Regulated Contaminants (PDF) (6 pp, 396K, About PDF)

EPA regulates cyanide in drinking water to protect public health. Cyanide may cause health problems if present in public or private water supplies in amounts greater than the drinking water standard set by EPA.

What is cyanide?
Cyanide is a carbon-nitrogen chemical unit which combines with many organic and inorganic compounds.

Uses for cyanide.
The most commonly used form, hydrogen cyanide, is mainly used to make compounds and other synthetic fibers and resins.

If you are concerned about cyanide in a private well, please visit:

What are cyanide's health effects?
Some people who drink water containing cyanide well in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for many years could experience nerve damage or problems with their thyroid.

This health effects language is not intended to catalog all possible health effects for cyanide. Rather, it is intended to inform consumers of some of the possible health effects associated with cyanide in drinking water when the rule was finalized.

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What are EPA's drinking water regulations for cyanide?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine the level of contaminants in drinking water at which no adverse health effects are likely to occur. These non-enforceable health goals, based solely on possible health risks and exposure over a lifetime with an adequate margin of safety, are called maximum contaminant level goals (MCLG). Contaminants are any physical, chemical, biological or radiological substances or matter in water.

The MCLG for cyanide is 0.2 mg/L or 200 ppb. EPA has set this level of protection based on the best available science to prevent potential health problems. EPA has set an enforceable regulation for cyanide, called a maximum contaminant level (MCL), at 0.2 mg/L or 200 ppb. MCLs are set as close to the health goals as possible, considering cost, benefits and the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies. In this case, the MCL equals the MCLG, because analytical methods or treatment technology do not pose any limitation.

The Phase V Rule, the regulation for cyanide, became effective in 1994. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to periodically review the national primary drinking water regulation for each contaminant and revise the regulation, if appropriate. EPA reviewed cyanide as part of the Six Year Review and determined that the 0.2 mg/L or 200 ppb MCLG and 0.2 mg/L or 200 ppb MCL for cyanide are still protective of human health.

States may set more stringent drinking water MCLGs and MCLs for cyanide than EPA.

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How does cyanide get into my drinking water?
The major source of cyanide in drinking water is discharge from industrial chemical factories.

A federal law called the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) requires facilities in certain industries, which manufacture, process, or use significant amounts of toxic chemicals, to report annually on their releases of these chemicals. For more information on the uses and releases of chemicals in your state, contact the Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 424-9346.

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How will I know if cyanide is in my drinking water?
When routine monitoring indicates that cyanide levels are above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of cyanide so that it is below that level. Water suppliers must notify their customers as soon as practical, but no later than 30 days after the system learns of the violation. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health.

If your water comes from a household well, check with your health department or local water systems that use ground water for information on contaminants of concern in your area.

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How will cyanide be removed from my drinking water?
The following treatment method(s) have proven to be effective for removing cyanide to below 0.2 mg/L or 200 ppb: granular activated carbon in combination with packed tower aeration.

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How do I learn more about my drinking water?
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking water, and to support local efforts to protect the supply of safe drinking water and upgrade the community water system. Your water bill or telephone book's government listings are a good starting point for local information.

Contact your water utility. EPA requires all community water systems to prepare and deliver an annual consumer confidence report (CCR) (sometimes called a water quality report) for their customers by July 1 of each year. If your water provider is not a community water system, or if you have a private water supply, request a copy from a nearby community water system.

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