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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene)

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Monochlorobenzene is used as a solvent for pesticides, a degreasing agent and an intermediate for manufacturing other chemicals. It causes liver and kidney damage in studies of laboratory animals.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

17

states detected

101

utilities detected

1.9 million

people served

0

states over health guideline

0

utilities over health guideline

0

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for monochlorobenzene

Harm to the liver

Harm to the kidney

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 70 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 70 ppb for monochlorobenzene 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 harm to internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 100 ppb

The legal limit for monochlorobenzene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1960s.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting monochlorobenzene in drinking water

UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served
Florida19959,077
Tennessee14311,600
Kentucky27282,316
Alabama7146,934
Wisconsin457,635
Nebraska151,440
Massachusetts239,377
New York1420,810
California110,509
Ohio16,400
North Carolina22,909
Arizona12,443
Virginia22,195
Maryland3523
Minnesota1400
Colorado188
Montana142
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce monochlorobenzene

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of monochlorobenzene, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
HogansvilleHogansville, GA1 of 139.0 ppb3,866
Freeman CreekBayfield, CO1 of 46.40 ppb88
Palm Lake Estates NorthRiviera Beach, FL14 of 470.891 ppb480
Riviera Beach Utility District*Riviera Beach, FL14 of 470.891 ppb34,700
Palm Lake Estates SouthRiviera Bch, FL14 of 470.891 ppb700
Mayo Center and ApartmentsAnnapolis, MD6 of 60.705 ppb60
North Attleboro Water Department*North Attleborough, MA4 of 370.641 ppb28,712
Ausable Heights Water SystemKeeseville, NY1 of 10.500 ppb46
Dayton Water DepartmentDayton, TN8 of 150.426 ppb26,125
Irvine Municipal Utilities*Irvine, KY1 of 230.426 ppb5,649
Riverside CampgroundSevierville, TN1 of 40.343 ppb589
Mallory Valley Utility Distric*Franklin, TN3 of 110.342 ppb25,131
Harpeth Valley Utility District*Nashville, TN3 of 110.342 ppb62,351
Burnside Water CompanyBurnside, KY1 of 60.333 ppb2,284
Elfrida Water Improvement DistrictElfrida, AZ2 of 130.331 ppb800
Colbert County Rural Water System*Tuscumbia, AL1 of 40.320 ppb10,731
Elm Hill Water DistrictAuburn, MA1 of 60.317 ppb2,260
Woodland Water DistrictAuburn, MA1 of 60.317 ppb465
Cherry Valley/ Rochdale Water DistrictLeicester, MA1 of 60.317 ppb3,337
Millbury Ind. Park/ Park Hill VillageMillbury, MA1 of 60.317 ppb400
Paxton Water DepartmentPaxton, MA1 of 60.317 ppb4,045
Worcester Department of Public Works*Worcester, MA1 of 60.317 ppb181,045
North Harlem ColonyHarlem, MT1 of 20.310 ppb42
Fairmont, Town ofFairmont, NC3 of 190.281 ppb2,837
Florida Pines Mobile Home ParkVenice, FL1 of 20.250 ppb280
Rose CreekRose Creek, MN3 of 70.234 ppb400
Gaston Heights S/dLittleton, NC1 of 80.213 ppb72
Georgetown Municipal Water ServiceGeorgetown, KY1 of 240.200 ppb35,714
Brodhead Water Works*Brodhead, KY2 of 110.200 ppb1,613
Mount Vernon Water Works*Mt Vernon, KY2 of 110.200 ppb4,951
City of Holly HillHolly Hill, FL1 of 90.189 ppb13,437
Fox Lake Hills Subdivision - Lake Co. PwLibertyville, IL1 of 30.187 ppb2,562
Venice Ranch Mobile Home EstatesVenice, FL1 of 20.180 ppb295
Burkesville Water Works*Burkesville, KY2 of 170.176 ppb2,566
Manchester By The Sea DPWManchester By The Sea, MA1 of 80.175 ppb5,654
Hustonville Water WorksHustonville, KY1 of 60.167 ppb5,420
Lawrenceburg Water & Sewer Department*Lawrenceburg, KY1 of 60.167 ppb14,748
St. Lucie Mobile VillageIndiantown, FL1 of 30.167 ppb750
Indiantown CompanyIndiantown, FL1 of 30.167 ppb5,847
Danville City Water Works*Danville, KY1 of 60.167 ppb32,600
Parksville Water DistrictParksville, KY1 of 60.167 ppb4,261
Reflections VillageRichfield, WI1 of 80.150 ppb47
Bullock Pen Water DistrictCrittenden, KY3 of 150.133 ppb20,048
Loon Bay Property Owners AssociationBumpus M Ills, TN1 of 60.131 ppb134
Carderview Utility DistrictButler, TN1 of 50.126 ppb1,077
Perry Village*, NY1 of 40.125 ppb4,348
Silver Lake Institute - Castile Water District #1, NY1 of 40.125 ppb440
Gardeau Water DistrictCastile, NY1 of 40.125 ppb60
Perry Center Water DistrictPerry, NY1 of 40.125 ppb150
Lexington Water SystemsLexington, TN1 of 90.117 ppb24,571

* 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 Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Riviera Beach Utility District*Riviera Beach, FL14 of 470.891 ppb34,700
North Attleboro Water Department*North Attleborough, MA4 of 370.641 ppb28,712
Dayton Water DepartmentDayton, TN8 of 150.426 ppb26,125
Mallory Valley Utility Distric*Franklin, TN3 of 110.342 ppb25,131
Harpeth Valley Utility District*Nashville, TN3 of 110.342 ppb62,351
Colbert County Rural Water System*Tuscumbia, AL1 of 40.320 ppb10,731
Worcester Department of Public Works*Worcester, MA1 of 60.317 ppb181,045
Georgetown Municipal Water ServiceGeorgetown, KY1 of 240.200 ppb35,714
City of Holly HillHolly Hill, FL1 of 90.189 ppb13,437
Lawrenceburg Water & Sewer Department*Lawrenceburg, KY1 of 60.167 ppb14,748
Danville City Water Works*Danville, KY1 of 60.167 ppb32,600
Bullock Pen Water DistrictCrittenden, KY3 of 150.133 ppb20,048
Lexington Water SystemsLexington, TN1 of 90.117 ppb24,571
Livingston Water Department*Livingston, TN1 of 60.0973 ppb14,388
Groveland Water DepartmentGroveland, FL1 of 60.0833 ppb12,985
South Blount Utility District*Maryville, TN1 of 130.0785 ppb42,413
Paducah Water Works*Paducah, KY1 of 90.0778 ppb64,013
La Vergne Water SystemLavergne, TN1 of 90.0766 ppb35,233
Somerset Water Service*Somerset, KY1 of 150.0667 ppb29,700
Southeastern Water Assoc/Nelson Valley*Somerset, KY1 of 150.0667 ppb21,895
Eubank Water System*Eubank, KY1 of 150.0667 ppb12,492
Needham Water Department (MWRA)Needham, MA2 of 260.0615 ppb32,485
Menomonie WaterworksMenomonie, WI2 of 120.0592 ppb15,950
Cudahy WaterworksCudahy, WI1 of 60.0550 ppb18,659
City of Grand Island*Grand Island, NE3 of 440.0525 ppb51,440
Paris Water Works*Paris, KY1 of 160.0438 ppb14,479
City of Camden*Camden, SC1 of 160.0438 ppb15,877
PrattvillePrattville, AL3 of 460.0430 ppb45,444
Palm Beach County Water Utilities*West Palm Beach, FL2 of 200.0420 ppb597,649
US Army Aviation and Missile CommandRedstone Arsenal, AL2 of 130.0415 ppb38,700
Oconomowoc WaterworksOconomowoc, WI1 of 90.0311 ppb15,805
Fredonia Village*Fredonia, NY1 of 50.0300 ppb10,984
Northeast Alabama Water System*Fort Payne, AL1 of 200.0259 ppb42,609
Marshfield UtilitiesMarshfield, WI2 of 390.0208 ppb18,708
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 140.0179 ppb127,700
Scotts Valley Water DistrictScotts Valley, CA5 of 1930.0162 ppb10,509
Wallingford Water DepartmentWallingford, CT1 of 350.0143 ppb37,267
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL2 of 180.0133 ppb251,502
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL2 of 180.0133 ppb12,717
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL11 of 2140.0132 ppb19,000
Maynard DPW, Water DivisionMaynard, MA1 of 390.0128 ppb10,665
Madison Water DepartmentMadison, NJ1 of 2300.0113 ppb15,820
United Water CamdenCamden, NJ3 of 450.00556 ppb46,585
Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority*Cedar Knolls, NJ1 of 1150.00522 ppb62,053
Clearwater Water SystemClearwater, FL1 of 230.00435 ppb110,000

* 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 Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.