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15 <br />The low levels identified in this study are considered to be naturally occurring as they are consistent <br />with other naturally occurring levels of arsenic in Orange County.. <br />The recommended drinking water limit for Arsenic is 0.01 mg/1, however the NC Department of <br />Environment and Natural Resources recommends a limit of 0.001 mg/1. <br />Health effects -Several studies have shown that long-teen exposure to inorganic arsenic can <br />increase the risk of lung cancer, skin cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, and <br />prostate cancer. Long-term exposure is defined as the consumption of a half gallon of water <br />each day over a period of 70 years, The current EPA contaminant limit is .O1 mg/I, but there <br />is interest in North Carolina for prescribing a level of <.001 mg/1. <br />• Remedial action -Wells that show levels of arsenic above .001 mg/1 can be remedied by <br />installing a treatment system for drinking water such as a reverse osmosis or ultra-filtration <br />unit. <br />Manganese -Manganese is an element that dissolves in water from the natural rock formations.. <br />Manganese levels above 0.05 mg/1 can turn well water black or brown and stains plumbing fixtures <br />and clothes. The levels found can cause nuisance problems, but do not pose any health risk. <br />The recommended drinking water limit for Manganese is 0.05 mg/1, <br />• Remedial action - Rernedies for wells with high manganese levels include installing a liner <br />in the well or installing a iron filter tr°eatrnent unit, The liner repair may be an option in <br />limited cases, depending on the well structure and water bearing aquifers, <br />- pH is a measure of how basic or acidic water is. With a pH below 6.5, the water is considered <br />acidic and there could be concerns about corrosion of plumbing components resulting in lead <br />Page 13 of 47 <br />