Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.
EWG Home Skin Deep Database Healthy Living App EWG Verified Open menu

EWG’s Tap
Water Database
Water Contamination Water Filter Guide Consumer Resources News & Insights
TAKE ACTION

CONTAMINANT

Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

FOUND

Exceeding guidelines

STATES DETECTED

36

serves

5.9 million

utilities detected

309

states detected

1

serves

615

utilities detected

1

STATES DETECTED

1

serves

615

utilities detected

1

Overview

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. learn more about this contaminant

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.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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

National Standard Exists

Health Concerns:

  • Cancer

  • Harm to reproduction and child development

  • Harm to the liver

Want to remove
Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) from your water?

Try these filter technologies:

Activated Carbon, 

Reverse Osmosis, 

understand filter technology

Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) around the Country

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State Utilities People Served Utilities People Served
California00431,911,354
Florida0022979,481
Arizona008968,228
Iowa0038609,629
Idaho005252,254
Louisiana0019220,828
New York161547201,073
Oklahoma007158,851
New Jersey009112,220
Pennsylvania001384,947
Texas001671,161
Alabama00567,060
Colorado001153,330
Massachusetts00449,206
North Carolina001036,708
Oregon00318,874
Nevada00115,830
Connecticut00315,614
Washington00512,288
Wisconsin00511,421
Ohio0039,010
Mississippi0036,884
Maryland0055,876
Arkansas0045,410
Alaska0014,400
Georgia0032,195
Wyoming0021,965
New Mexico0021,321
Montana003638
Indiana002566
Michigan001380
South Dakota001255
Maine001185
Virginia002174
West Virginia00178
Minnesota00160

Utilities with the highest amounts of dichloromethane (methylene chloride), 2021-2023

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
Utility Location Tests Average level People served
Hounsfield Water District 2Watertown, NY1 of 115.0 ppb615
John Latoracca Correctional FacilityMerced, CA1 of 64.00 ppb800
Star Line Heights ApartmentsStatesboro, GA1 of 14.00 ppb32
East Corning Consolidated DistrictCorning, NY1 of 53.60 ppb900
Shady Oaks Mobile Home ParkEl Segundo, ME3 of 122.33 ppb185
Wapello Municipal Water WorksWapello, IA1 of 11.90 ppb2,096
Shady Lake Water AssociationNorth San Juan, CA1 of 11.90 ppb90
Kelley Water SupplyKelley, IA1 of 11.80 ppb304
Parkville Water DistrictLeadville, CO2 of 111.62 ppb7,500
Midwest Country EstatesNewton, IA1 of 11.60 ppb820
Waukee Water Supply*Waukee, IA1 of 11.60 ppb23,940
Epps Water SystemEpps, LA1 of 41.53 ppb696
Eleven Oaks Mobile Home CommunityNorth Highlands, CA1 of 31.47 ppb262
Hidden Lake Yellowstone County W and S DBillings, MT1 of 11.40 ppb350
Royal EstatesFarmington Hills, MI2 of 41.38 ppb380
Pooles Mobile Home ParkNewport News, VA2 of 71.37 ppb112
Elba Water Works*Elba, AL1 of 111.36 ppb5,361
Sun-tides Rv ParkYakima, WA1 of 21.25 ppb100
Kewaunee WaterworksKewaunee, WI1 of 81.25 ppb2,951
Nininger WaterworksVinton, VA1 of 11.20 ppb62
Regency Park Assisted Living ResidenceGambrills, MD1 of 21.17 ppb85
Williams Water SupplyWilliams, IA7 of 71.16 ppb315
Wilshire Hills MhcMadrid, IA2 of 21.15 ppb216
Still River Estates SubdivisionBillings, MT1 of 11.10 ppb188
La Union Mds & WaAnthony, NM1 of 21.000 ppb1,272
Wedgefield Plantation SubdivisionStatesboro, GA1 of 20.950 ppb49
Windsong SubdivisionAustin, TX1 of 90.944 ppb135
Vista Del Rey Estates Mutual Domestic Water Consumers AssociationVado, NM1 of 20.900 ppb49
Leights Mobile Home ParkKearneysville, WV1 of 10.900 ppb78
Southside Mobile Home ParkCary, NC3 of 130.874 ppb254
E J Gulick Mobile Home ParkEaston, PA3 of 30.867 ppb78
Ham's Mobile Home Park No. 2Belmont, NC2 of 30.867 ppb99
Pine Valley Mobile Home ParkBemidji, MN2 of 50.840 ppb60
Apalachicola, City ofApalachicola, FL1 of 10.820 ppb4,500
Widefield WSD*Colorado Springs, CO2 of 140.805 ppb22,414
Crestview Condominium AssociationCheshire, CT1 of 10.800 ppb84
Lake Margaret Water SystemCarnation, WA1 of 10.800 ppb406
Mitchellville Water SupplyMitchellville, IA1 of 10.790 ppb2,515
Emigrant Gap Mutual Water CompanyEmigrant Gap, CA1 of 20.750 ppb125
Fircrest Mutual Water CompanySebastopol, CA1 of 20.650 ppb126
Marlborough Water DistrictMilton, NY2 of 60.633 ppb3,248
Newburgh Consolidated WD*Newburgh, NY2 of 60.633 ppb26,313
Lukins Brothers Water Company*South Lake Tahoe, CA3 of 730.619 ppb3,267
Moro Rd. Ws #09Salinas, CA1 of 20.600 ppb210
Unalaska Water SystemUnalaska, AK1 of 60.553 ppb4,400
Bear Mountain Water SupplyBear Mountain, NY1 of 10.540 ppb3,564
No Kaweah Mutual Water CompanyThree Rivers, CA3 of 90.528 ppb560
Twilight WCDurango, CO1 of 40.518 ppb78
City of Chino HillsChino Hills, CA1 of 10.510 ppb77,964
Villa MargaretOkeechobee, FL1 of 10.500 ppb132

* 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.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Waukee Water Supply*Waukee, IA1 of 11.60 ppb23,940
Widefield WSD*Colorado Springs, CO2 of 140.805 ppb22,414
Newburgh Consolidated WD*Newburgh, NY2 of 60.633 ppb26,313
City of Chino HillsChino Hills, CA1 of 10.510 ppb77,964
Hialeah GardensHialeah Gardens, FL1 of 10.500 ppb22,200
Indianola Water Supply*Indianola, IA1 of 10.480 ppb15,833
Woodbury Cons. WDCentral Valley, NY4 of 90.362 ppb10,741
Sjcu-northeast Utilities WsSt. Augustine, FL3 of 470.345 ppb14,790
Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA Major Grid)*Jacksonville, FL3 of 470.345 ppb826,664
Union Hill Water Association Inc.Redmond, WA1 of 20.330 ppb11,360
Cal American Water CompanyRosemead, CA8 of 260.323 ppb66,809
Ventura Waterworks District No. 8 - Simi ValleySimi Valley, CA8 of 260.323 ppb94,738
Thousand Oaks Water DepartmentThousand Oaks, CA8 of 260.323 ppb53,157
Camarillo Water DepartmentCamarillo, CA8 of 260.323 ppb46,848
Ventura CWWD No. 1 - Moorpark*Moorpark, CA8 of 260.323 ppb36,625
California Water Service Company - WestlakeSan Jose, CA8 of 260.323 ppb19,512
Oak Park Water ServiceWestlake Village, CA8 of 260.323 ppb13,898
Calleguas Municipal Water District*Thousand Oaks, CA8 of 260.323 ppb640,000
Golden State Water Company - SimiRancho Cordova, CA8 of 260.323 ppb44,640
Camrosa Water DistrictCamarillo, CA8 of 260.323 ppb32,700
Moon Twp Municipal Authority*Moon Township, PA1 of 30.308 ppb38,000
New Windsor Consolidated WD*New Windsor, NY3 of 120.304 ppb30,450
City of CorneliusCornelius, OR2 of 100.270 ppb13,201
Robinson Twp Municipal Authority*Pittsburgh, PA1 of 30.242 ppb16,354
Norwalk Water SupplyNorwalk, IA1 of 60.200 ppb12,799
Warren Water District*Indianola, IA1 of 60.200 ppb20,095
West Des Moines Water WorksWest Des Moines, IA1 of 60.200 ppb68,723
Urbandale Water Utility*Urbandale, IA1 of 60.200 ppb45,600
Johnston Municipal Water SupplyJohnston, IA1 of 60.200 ppb24,064
Des Moines Water Works*Des Moines, IA1 of 60.200 ppb245,123
Clive Water DepartmentClive, IA1 of 60.200 ppb18,601
City of Ankeny*Ankeny, IA1 of 60.200 ppb68,090
Russellville Water Works*Russellville, AL1 of 20.188 ppb16,650
Fishkill Village*Fishkill, NY4 of 240.178 ppb11,337
Clear Brook City MUDHouston, TX1 of 90.156 ppb18,108
Beacon City*Beacon, NY4 of 200.155 ppb21,080
City of Black HawkBlack Hawk, CO1 of 100.150 ppb15,167
Del CityDel City, OK2 of 140.150 ppb22,128
Northwest Utilities WTPSt. Augustine, FL1 of 60.142 ppb32,657
West Baton Rouge Water Works District 2Port Allen, LA1 of 60.132 ppb13,437
California Water Service Company - DominguezSan Jose, CA3 of 510.118 ppb143,464
Altoona Water SupplyAltoona, IA1 of 30.117 ppb19,565
Sunrise SouthwestFort Lauderdale, FL1 of 40.110 ppb10,750
South Tahoe PUD - Main*South Lake Tahoe, CA1 of 540.102 ppb21,414
City of Edmond - Arcadia Lake*Edmond, OK3 of 420.0893 ppb79,408
City of Nederland*Nederland, TX1 of 60.0833 ppb18,856
North Port UtilitiesNorth Port, FL1 of 110.0809 ppb57,256
Hanover Water DepartmentHanover, MA1 of 90.0744 ppb14,899
Dayton Valley Water System*Dayton, NV1 of 100.0740 ppb15,830
Wilmington Water DepartmentWilmington, MA4 of 210.0729 ppb22,325

* 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.

Know the Standards

Understand EWG’s guidelines on contaminants in your water.

view ewg’s standards

Take Action

Interested in supporting other causes? Learn more about our ongoing campaigns and how you can make a difference.

LEARN MORE

Need help finding a filter?

Discover top-rated filters that protect your family from harmful contaminants.

GET THE GUIDE

We’re in this together

Donate today and join the fight to protect our environmental health.

DONATE TODAY

Protect your water

Sign our petition to protect PFAS drinking water standards

TAKE ACTION