Nickel in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Can cause allergic dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Long-term exposure above the MCL may cause damage to the heart and liver. Some animal studies suggest possible cancer risk.
📍 Sources in Water
Occurs naturally in soil and groundwater. Also enters water from metal industries, mining operations, and sewage discharge. Can leach from stainless steel pipes and fittings.
✅ What To Do
Reverse osmosis and ion exchange filters can reduce nickel levels. Nickel violations in community water systems are rare.
📜 Regulation History
The EPA set the nickel MCL at 0.1 mg/L (100 ppb) in 1992 under the Phase V rule, but later remanded it in 1995 and it was formally removed from the primary standards list. However, many states still enforce limits. The WHO guideline is 0.07 mg/L. Some states like California maintain their own notification levels for nickel.
🔬 How To Test Your Water
Certified lab tests for nickel cost $15-$30. A comprehensive metals panel ($50-$100) will include nickel. Home test kits for nickel are not commonly available. If you notice a metallic taste and have stainless steel plumbing components, nickel testing may be worthwhile.
💧 Which Filters Remove Nickel?
Reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58 certified) and ion exchange systems are effective at reducing nickel. Distillation also works well. Standard carbon filters have limited effectiveness against nickel.
Check your tap water for Nickel
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Nickel 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.