Chloride, dissolved
Overview
Chloride is present in nearly all natural waters, although concentrations are normally low. Chloride can originate from natural evaporate deposits of salt and from past oil and gas brine solutions.
Water-quality standards and criteria are developed by the States, approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and then promulgated (passed into law) as standards by each State. Graphs on this website allow comparison of measured and computed data to these standards and criteria by plotting them as straight lines. When evaluating data to decide whether water quality is suitable for the intended use, viewers are cautioned to consider the uncertainty associated with these computed data.
Water-quality Standards and Criteria
USEPA maximum SDWR for finished drinking water: 250 mg/L
High chloride concentrations are undesirable because the water is less useable as a drinking-water source. A non-enforceable maximum of 250 milligrams per liter for treated drinking water has been established.
Source: USEPA National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (view online)
Kansas acute aquatic-life criterion: 860 mg/L
A maximum criterion of 860 milligrams per liter.
Source: Kansas Department of Health and the Environment (view online)
Stations That Measure or Compute Continuous Chloride
Click a station to view measurements of chloride.