Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Methylene chloride is a common industrial solvent used for paint stripping, vapor degreasing, printing, electronics manufacturing and cleaning. It causes cancer and liver damage in animal studies. Read More.
Surface and groundwater can be contaminated with methylene chloride from industrial releases and landfill leaching. The EPA considers methylene chloride likely carcinogenic to people. Long-term ingestion of drinking water with methylene chloride contamination can cause liver damage and cancer. Occupational exposure to methylene chloride and other solvents has been linked with increased risk of miscarriage. Birth defects have also been observed in studies of laboratory animals exposed to methylene chloride during pregnancy.
2017-2019:
39
states detected
384
utilities detected
5.3 million
people served
1
states over health guideline
4
utilities over health guideline
2,951
people served over health guideline
1
states over legal limit
1
utilities over legal limit
59
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for dichloromethane (methylene chloride)
Cancer
Harm to reproduction and child development
Harm to the liver
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 4 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 4 ppb for dichloromethane (methylene chloride) was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb
The legal limit for dichloromethane, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting dichloromethane (methylene chloride) in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 4 | 2,951 | 67 | 1,969,650 | |||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 40 | 1,537,580 | |||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 25 | 430,794 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 27 | 247,054 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 11 | 172,086 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 10 | 146,924 | |||
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 14 | 113,988 | |||
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 12 | 86,274 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 0 | 21 | 85,163 | |||
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 8 | 85,119 | |||
| North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 3 | 80,555 | |||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 44 | 47,526 | |||
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 9 | 42,769 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 2 | 34,459 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 9 | 26,440 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 4 | 18,473 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 13 | 17,511 | |||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16,624 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16,118 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14,000 | |||
| Mississippi | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13,229 | |||
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 19 | 13,151 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9,130 | |||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7,160 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6,453 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4,818 | |||
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3,700 | |||
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3,650 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2,153 | |||
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1,767 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1,461 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 5 | 398 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 2 | 250 | |||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 2 | 222 | |||
| Montana | 0 | 0 | 2 | 157 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 153 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 1 | 135 | |||
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 2 | 84 | |||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | 1 | 30 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce dichloromethane (methylene chloride)
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of dichloromethane (methylene chloride), 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Acres Mutual Water Company | Sonora, CA | 1 of 1 | 10.5 ppb | 59 |
| Sierra Village Mutual Water Company | Twain Harte, CA | 3 of 6 | 4.81 ppb | 272 |
| Sierra Twain Harte Mobile Home Park | Columbia, CA | 1 of 2 | 4.20 ppb | 120 |
| Mi-wuk Heights Mutual Water Company | Mi Wuk Village, CA | 2 of 4 | 3.60 ppb | 352 |
| Pinecrest Permittees Association | Pinecrest, CA | 3 of 4 | 3.55 ppb | 2,500 |
| Washington Corrections Center | Shelton, WA | 1 of 5 | 3.50 ppb | 1,800 |
| Grand Chute Tn San District 1 | Grand Chute, WI | 5 of 5 | 3.49 ppb | 21,583 |
| Mayfair Subdivision | Morton, IL | 1 of 4 | 2.50 ppb | 90 |
| Franklin Grove | Franklin Grove, IL | 2 of 14 | 2.39 ppb | 1,021 |
| Chelmsford Water District | Chelmsford, MA | 1 of 1 | 2.21 ppb | 28,079 |
| Birchland Mobile Home Community | Horseheads, NY | 1 of 3 | 1.93 ppb | 50 |
| Norwalk Wilshire Mobile Home Park | Hartford, IA | 1 of 1 | 1.80 ppb | 216 |
| Dubois, Town Of | Dubois, WY | 1 of 2 | 1.70 ppb | 971 |
| Truluck-dogwood Hills Subdivision | Cordele, GA | 1 of 3 | 1.70 ppb | 52 |
| Cabery | Cabery, IL | 2 of 5 | 1.64 ppb | 263 |
| Truluck-timberland Plantation | Cordele, GA | 1 of 3 | 1.57 ppb | 75 |
| Stuart Water Company | Rancho Santa Fe, CA | 1 of 5 | 1.44 ppb | 100 |
| Truluck-sunnybrook Farm SD | Cordele, GA | 1 of 3 | 1.43 ppb | 83 |
| Sonora Estates Mobile Home Park | Sonora, CA | 1 of 3 | 1.38 ppb | 210 |
| Cal Fire - Miramonte Conservation Camp | Miramonte, CA | 1 of 8 | 1.38 ppb | 100 |
| Sjolander Road Mobile Home Park | The Woodlands, TX | 1 of 8 | 1.38 ppb | 126 |
| Cedar Lake Estates | Cordele, GA | 1 of 3 | 1.37 ppb | 78 |
| Quimby Water Supply | Quimby, IA | 1 of 2 | 1.35 ppb | 319 |
| Cold Springs Water Company | Cold Springs, CA | 1 of 2 | 1.33 ppb | 375 |
| Champion Farms Subdivision | Troy, MO | 2 of 7 | 1.32 ppb | 30 |
| Truluck-bran-tre Subdivision | Cordele, GA | 1 of 3 | 1.30 ppb | 57 |
| Pueblo Heights Mobile Home Park | Globe, AZ | 1 of 7 | 1.26 ppb | 400 |
| Bluff Lake Lodges, Inc. | Antioch, IL | 3 of 18 | 1.22 ppb | 24 |
| Tamarron Mobile Home Park | Newport Beach, CA | 1 of 1 | 1.19 ppb | 225 |
| Maroa | Maroa, IL | 1 of 4 | 1.17 ppb | 1,700 |
| Sierra Village Mobile Home Park | Mi Wuk, CA | 1 of 2 | 1.17 ppb | 30 |
| Lemars Water Department | Lemars, IA | 1 of 2 | 1.15 ppb | 9,846 |
| Oronoko Township | Walled Lake, MI | 1 of 6 | 1.12 ppb | 2,310 |
| Berrien Springs* | Dearborn Heights, MI | 1 of 6 | 1.12 ppb | 3,530 |
| Andrews University | Comstock, MI | 1 of 6 | 1.12 ppb | 3,000 |
| West Shore Park Subdivision | Mundelein, IL | 1 of 3 | 1.10 ppb | 590 |
| Glenview Mobile Park | Oxnard, CA | 1 of 2 | 1.10 ppb | 100 |
| Ludlow Warner System | Ludlow, PA | 1 of 1 | 1.10 ppb | 76 |
| Spring Run Estates Water Treatment Plant | Coatesville, PA | 1 of 10 | 1.06 ppb | 450 |
| Nico Tyme Water Coop | Elmendorf, TX | 1 of 5 | 1.06 ppb | 96 |
| Backwoods-saddlebrook Community Ws | Moyock, NC | 1 of 17 | 1.04 ppb | 122 |
| Rimrock Water Association | Goldendale, WA | 2 of 3 | 1.02 ppb | 78 |
| Nicholasville Water Department* | Nicholasville, KY | 1 of 6 | 1.000 ppb | 34,253 |
| Stanford Water Works* | Stanford, KY | 1 of 6 | 1.000 ppb | 9,284 |
| City of San Juan Capistrano | San Juan Capistrano, CA | 1 of 10 | 1.000 ppb | 40,000 |
| Jessamine County Water District #1 | Nicholasville, KY | 1 of 6 | 1.000 ppb | 6,831 |
| Rambling Hills Estates | Guerneville, CA | 1 of 3 | 0.997 ppb | 78 |
| Rancho Carrillo Mutual Water Company | San Juan Capistrano, CA | 3 of 6 | 0.955 ppb | 168 |
| Chester, Town of | Chester, MT | 1 of 10 | 0.940 ppb | 870 |
| Pojoaque Terraces Mobile Home Park | Fairview, NM | 1 of 3 | 0.900 ppb | 160 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Chute Tn San District 1 | Grand Chute, WI | 5 of 5 | 3.49 ppb | 21,583 |
| Chelmsford Water District | Chelmsford, MA | 1 of 1 | 2.21 ppb | 28,079 |
| Nicholasville Water Department* | Nicholasville, KY | 1 of 6 | 1.000 ppb | 34,253 |
| City of San Juan Capistrano | San Juan Capistrano, CA | 1 of 10 | 1.000 ppb | 40,000 |
| City of Martinez | Martinez, CA | 1 of 1 | 0.600 ppb | 35,375 |
| Fort Dodge Water Supply* | Fort Dodge, IA | 1 of 2 | 0.550 ppb | 25,206 |
| Two Rivers Waterworks | Two Rivers, WI | 5 of 7 | 0.513 ppb | 11,232 |
| Whitefish Bay Waterworks | Whitefish Bay, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.480 ppb | 14,272 |
| Wisconsin Rapids Water Works & Lighting Comm. | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | 1 of 3 | 0.433 ppb | 20,000 |
| Rockingham, City of | Rockingham, NC | 2 of 10 | 0.375 ppb | 13,233 |
| Worcester Department of Public Works* | Worcester, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.367 ppb | 181,045 |
| Marion Waterworks* | Marion, AR | 4 of 28 | 0.365 ppb | 13,014 |
| California Water Service Company - Westlake | San Jose, CA | 15 of 73 | 0.349 ppb | 19,451 |
| Thousand Oaks Water Department | Thousand Oaks, CA | 15 of 73 | 0.349 ppb | 50,000 |
| Cal American Water Company | Newbury Park, CA | 15 of 73 | 0.349 ppb | 61,206 |
| Oak Park Water Service | Ventura, CA | 15 of 73 | 0.349 ppb | 12,200 |
| Allouez Waterworks | Green Bay, WI | 2 of 4 | 0.308 ppb | 13,932 |
| Shorewood Waterworks | Shorewood, WI | 2 of 2 | 0.285 ppb | 13,189 |
| Marinette Waterworks | Marinette, WI | 5 of 8 | 0.238 ppb | 10,968 |
| Beverly Hills Water Department | Beverly Hills, CA | 4 of 17 | 0.212 ppb | 44,290 |
| Mequon Water Utility | Mequon, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.210 ppb | 11,152 |
| City of San Benito | San Benito, TX | 1 of 6 | 0.200 ppb | 24,250 |
| City of Bogalusa Water System | Bogalusa, LA | 2 of 32 | 0.194 ppb | 14,000 |
| City of Bismarck* | Bismarck, ND | 1 of 6 | 0.183 ppb | 72,417 |
| Moore | Moore, OK | 18 of 125 | 0.168 ppb | 55,083 |
| Braintree Water and Sewer Department | Braintree, MA | 1 of 4 | 0.160 ppb | 37,544 |
| Johnston Municipal Water Supply | Johnston, IA | 1 of 12 | 0.158 ppb | 17,306 |
| Waukee Water Supply* | Waukee, IA | 1 of 12 | 0.158 ppb | 13,790 |
| Des Moines Water Works* | Des Moines, IA | 1 of 12 | 0.158 ppb | 233,020 |
| Warren Water District* | Indianola, IA | 1 of 12 | 0.158 ppb | 18,045 |
| Clive Water Department | Clive, IA | 1 of 12 | 0.158 ppb | 15,447 |
| Urbandale Water Utility | Urbandale, IA | 1 of 12 | 0.158 ppb | 39,463 |
| Slidell Water Supply | Slidell, LA | 2 of 16 | 0.150 ppb | 38,612 |
| Del City | Del City, OK | 7 of 44 | 0.150 ppb | 22,128 |
| City of Shelby* | Shelby, NC | 3 of 19 | 0.139 ppb | 20,323 |
| Montgomery | Montgomery, IL | 3 of 56 | 0.137 ppb | 28,160 |
| San Gabriel Valley Water Company - Fontana | Fontana, CA | 6 of 145 | 0.128 ppb | 213,209 |
| City of Stuart - Water Plant | Stuart, FL | 14 of 214 | 0.128 ppb | 19,000 |
| Manitowoc Waterworks* | Manitowoc, WI | 2 of 20 | 0.123 ppb | 34,500 |
| Mission Springs WD | Desert Hot Springs, CA | 3 of 23 | 0.111 ppb | 34,626 |
| City of Antioch | Antioch, CA | 1 of 9 | 0.111 ppb | 103,833 |
| Germantown Water Department | Germantown, TN | 1 of 4 | 0.110 ppb | 37,897 |
| Elizabeth City | Elizabeth City, NC | 1 of 10 | 0.110 ppb | 19,187 |
| Galveston County WCID 1 | Dickinson, TX | 4 of 21 | 0.110 ppb | 29,280 |
| Brownsville Public Utilities Board* | Brownsville, TX | 1 of 12 | 0.108 ppb | 176,362 |
| City of Ammon | Ammon, ID | 1 of 10 | 0.106 ppb | 14,019 |
| Park WC - Compton | Downey, CA | 1 of 14 | 0.1000 ppb | 24,698 |
| Elizabethtown Area Water | Elizabethtown, PA | 2 of 28 | 0.0964 ppb | 18,900 |
| Camas Municipal Water Sewer System | Camas, WA | 1 of 15 | 0.0933 ppb | 23,020 |
| Denville Twp Water Department | Denville, NJ | 3 of 56 | 0.0911 ppb | 15,881 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.