Beryllium in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Long-term exposure may cause intestinal lesions. Beryllium is a probable human carcinogen. Inhalation of beryllium dust is more concerning than ingestion, but the MCL protects against drinking water exposure.
📍 Sources in Water
Enters water from discharge of metal refineries, coal-burning factories, and electrical, aerospace, and defense industries. Also occurs naturally in some rock.
✅ What To Do
Reverse osmosis and activated alumina filtration can reduce beryllium. Beryllium violations in public water systems are very rare.
Check your tap water for Beryllium
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Beryllium violations, plus lead testing results and an overall safety grade.
Search your ZIP code →Data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). MCLs reflect minimum federal standards; some contaminants may pose health risks below these thresholds.