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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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1,2-Dichloropropane

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

1,2-Dichloropropane is a volatile carcinogenic solvent discharged from chemical factories and landfills. It also contaminates farmland due to its former use as a soil fumigant. Read More.

The insecticide and fumigant uses of 1,2-dichloropropane were discontinued in the 1980s, but it is still used as an industrial solvent. The California public health goal of 0.5 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 10 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion. 1,2-Dichloropropane can also damage the nervous system, liver, kidneys, and digestive and respiratory systems.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

12

states detected

76

utilities detected

1.3 million

people served

8

states over health guideline

21

utilities over health guideline

120,000

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for 1,2-dichloropropane

Liver cancer

Harm to the liver

Harm to the kidney

Change to blood cells

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.5 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.5 ppb for 1,2-dichloropropane 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 1,2-dichloropropane, established in 1991, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting 1,2-dichloropropane in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
California27718530,614
Florida115820374,014
New York181,76016265,152
Utah133,000133,000
Washington21,265425,695
New Jersey00223,163
Connecticut00214,834
Ohio0016,400
North Carolina122,975195,136
South Carolina14121412
Delaware160160
Missouri00130
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce 1,2-dichloropropane

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of 1,2-dichloropropane, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Bass Mobile Home CourtNashville, NC20 of 245.31 ppb97
Lassiter Farms S/dCary, NC21 of 292.75 ppb254
Grissom Farm S/dCary, NC13 of 152.38 ppb213
Harmony HomesAltamonte Springs, FL9 of 111.94 ppb158
Braxton Pointe S/dCary, NC15 of 151.45 ppb88
Bay Laurel S/dCary, NC16 of 181.25 ppb56
Hoke Landing S/dCary, NC9 of 151.05 ppb112
South Huntington Water DepartmentSouth Huntington, NY4 of 41.03 ppb81,760
Turner Farms V Master SystemCary, NC6 of 140.957 ppb518
Tyler Farms S/dCary, NC2 of 100.940 ppb89
Sumter-wessex S/dSumter, SC22 of 230.939 ppb412
Lucama, Town ofLucama, NC4 of 60.857 ppb881
Wilgus Housing Water SystemGrandview, WA5 of 50.822 ppb100
Shady Acres Mobile Home VillageZebulon, NC4 of 90.800 ppb115
Rowland Pond S/dCary, NC6 of 100.780 ppb363
Csa 62Ripley, CA3 of 30.780 ppb700
Riverview EstatesCary, NC5 of 60.667 ppb94
Dallas AcresCary, NC5 of 80.651 ppb150
Lakeview Park Water AssociationQuincy, WA5 of 80.636 ppb1,165
Ponderosa S/dCary, NC5 of 70.623 ppb149
Llanas Camp Four Water SystemShafter, CA1 of 10.600 ppb71
Heidel Rd Apts 152Thiensville, WI1 of 130.531 ppb40
Woods of Ashbury S/dCary, NC5 of 210.519 ppb144
Ausable Heights Water SystemKeeseville, NY1 of 10.500 ppb46
Immokalee WaterImmokalee, FL4 of 110.446 ppb25,608
Victory Mutual Water CompanyBakersfield, CA1 of 20.400 ppb740
Carpenters RowWilmington, DE1 of 30.380 ppb60
Pole Road Water AssociationLynden, WA3 of 50.380 ppb1,500
Midvale City Water SystemMidvale, UT4 of 650.328 ppb33,000
Ham's Mobile Home Park No. 2Belmont, NC3 of 80.325 ppb99
Stagecoach S/dCary, NC8 of 190.265 ppb561
Florida Pines Mobile Home ParkVenice, FL1 of 20.250 ppb280
Turner Farms I & IICary, NC3 of 80.224 ppb130
Broadhurst/turner Downs S/dCary, NC3 of 100.221 ppb597
Champion Farms SubdivisionTroy, MO2 of 70.209 ppb30
High Grove S/dCary, NC4 of 150.185 ppb371
Speer Mobile Home Park Plant City, FL2 of 70.169 ppb270
St. Lucie Mobile VillageIndiantown, FL1 of 30.167 ppb750
Indiantown CompanyIndiantown, FL1 of 30.167 ppb5,847
City of RialtoRialto, CA125 of 5550.156 ppb48,623
Crawford County Water SystemRoberta, GA2 of 130.134 ppb1,804
Silver Lake Institute - Castile Water District #1, NY1 of 40.125 ppb440
Perry Center Water DistrictPerry, NY1 of 40.125 ppb150
Perry Village*, NY1 of 40.125 ppb4,348
Gardeau Water DistrictCastile, NY1 of 40.125 ppb60
Jericho Water DistrictSyosset, NY71 of 1,0880.119 ppb58,000
Ridgebrook Bluff S/dCary, NC3 of 140.114 ppb243
Pueblo Heights Mobile Home ParkGlobe, AZ1 of 70.103 ppb400
Vinton Hills SubdivisionAnthony, TX1 of 60.0833 ppb549
Markowski FarmsWest Suffield, CT1 of 60.0833 ppb155

* 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 1,2-Dichloropropane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
South Huntington Water DepartmentSouth Huntington, NY4 of 41.03 ppb81,760
Immokalee WaterImmokalee, FL4 of 110.446 ppb25,608
Midvale City Water SystemMidvale, UT4 of 650.328 ppb33,000
City of RialtoRialto, CA125 of 5550.156 ppb48,623
Jericho Water DistrictSyosset, NY71 of 1,0880.119 ppb58,000
Moorestown Water DepartmentMoorestown, NJ8 of 270.0659 ppb20,700
Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut - Simsbury SystemBridgeport, CT8 of 790.0608 ppb14,679
City of BlytheBlythe, CA1 of 110.0500 ppb12,155
California Water Service - South San FranciscoSan Jose, CA12 of 1920.0391 ppb56,110
Maple Shade Water Department*Maple Shade, NJ1 of 40.0375 ppb19,400
City of ShafterShafter, CA1 of 240.0292 ppb16,928
City of Moses LakeMoses Lake, WA1 of 320.0188 ppb22,930
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 140.0179 ppb127,700
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL2 of 180.0164 ppb251,502
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL2 of 180.0164 ppb12,717
Wallingford Water DepartmentWallingford, CT1 of 350.0143 ppb37,267
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL9 of 2140.0105 ppb19,000
Riviera Beach Utility District*Riviera Beach, FL2 of 470.00781 ppb34,700
Cal/Am Water Company - San MarinoRosemead, CA3 of 7210.00720 ppb40,804
California Water Service (CWS) - Bakersfield*San Jose, CA4 of 5140.00547 ppb246,371
Bethpage WDBethpage, NY5 of 9410.00309 ppb33,000
Plainview WDPlainview, NY6 of 1,1080.00293 ppb35,000
Hicksville WDHicksville, NY1 of 1,3920.00144 ppb48,000
San Bernardino City*San Bernardino, CA3 of 1,7680.00101 ppb188,931

* 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 1,2-Dichloropropane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.