EPA Drinking Water Advisory: Acceptability and Health Effects on Sodium
DRINKING WATER ADVISORY:
CONSUMER ACCEPTABILITY ADVICE AND
HEALTH EFFECTS ANALYSIS ON SODIUM
Executive Summary
The EPA Office of Water is issuing this Drinking Water Advisory to provide guidance to
communities that may be exposed to drinking water containing sodium chloride or other sodium
salts. The Advisory provides a summary of the current health hazard information and an
evaluation of available data on taste problems associated with sodium in drinking water. This
Advisory does not recommend a reference dose because data for quantifying risk are limited.
The Advisory provides guidance on concentrations at which problems with taste would likely
occur.
EPA requires periodic monitoring of sodium at the entry point to the distribution system.
Monitoring is to be conducted annually for surface water systems and every 3 years for
groundwater systems (40 CFR:141.41). The water supplier must report sodium test results to
local and State public health officials by direct mail within 3 months of the analysis, unless this
responsibility is assumed by the State. This provides the public health community with
information on sodium levels in drinking water.