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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Diethyl phthalate

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Diethyl phthalate is an additive used in many consumer products, particularly those containing fragrance. As a group, phthalates are associated with hormone disruption. Read More.

Phthalates are synthetic chemicals that are added to hard plastics to make them soft and malleable. Phthalates can be found in everyday consumer products such as carpets, paints, glues, wall coverings, tablecloths, furniture upholstery, shower curtains, garden hoses, toys, shoes, automobile upholstery, food packaging and medical products. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to respiratory health problems, asthma and allergies in infants and children, and changes in reproductive system development in baby boys. The National Toxicology Program classifies a commonly used phthalate, called di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP, as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen."

2017-2019:

FOUND

4

states detected

16

utilities detected

60,256

people served

Health concerns for diethyl phthalate

Harm to reproduction and child development

Hormone disruption

States reporting diethyl phthalate in drinking water

UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served
Arkansas1339,410
Washington119,960
Texas1513
Oklahoma1373
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce diethyl phthalate

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

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Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of diethyl phthalate, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Sky Lakes Water Supply CorporationWaller, TX1 of 513.4 ppb513
Salem Water DepartmentSalem, NJ4 of 92.80 ppb6,199
City of Mcgregor*Mc Gregor, TX1 of 51.50 ppb5,600
Quonochontaug East Beach Water AssociationCharlestown, RI1 of 21.50 ppb300
Andover Village DistrictAndover, NH1 of 11.20 ppb650
Mountain View Mobile Home ParkGardnerville, NV1 of 11.10 ppb45
Turrell WaterTurrell, AR1 of 50.976 ppb540
City of Bruceville EddyEddy, TX1 of 220.682 ppb5,508
Mena Water*Mena, AR1 of 140.526 ppb7,784
Leflore County Rural Water District #17Hodgen, OK1 of 140.526 ppb373
Acorn Rural WaterNot Submitted, AR1 of 140.526 ppb1,975
Freedom WaterMena, AR1 of 140.526 ppb1,838
City of Copperas Cove*Copperas Cove, TX2 of 160.463 ppb33,919
City of BeltonBelton, TX2 of 160.463 ppb21,214
City of KilleenKilleen, TX2 of 160.463 ppb140,806
Bell County Water Control and Improvement District 1*Killeen, TX2 of 160.463 ppb264
City of Harker HeightsHarker Heights, TX2 of 160.463 ppb30,365
Bell County Water Control and Improvement District 3Nolanville, TX2 of 160.463 ppb4,259
439 Water Supply CorporationBelton, TX2 of 160.463 ppb7,521
US Army South Fort HoodFort Hood, TX2 of 160.463 ppb35,669
Ola Waterworks*Ola, AR1 of 90.449 ppb998
Casa Water DepartmentCasa, AR1 of 90.449 ppb1,200
City of BellmeadBellmead, TX2 of 250.324 ppb10,052
City of Georgetown*Georgetown, TX2 of 260.204 ppb102,687
Mill Pond VillageHot Springs, AR1 of 50.186 ppb160
Parkin Waterworks*Parkin, AR1 of 70.163 ppb988
Parkin RuralParkin, AR1 of 70.163 ppb406
GreenwoodGreenwood, AR1 of 130.122 ppb8,952
Ellensburg Water DepartmentEllensburg, WA1 of 90.113 ppb19,960
Lee County WSCGiddings, TX2 of 390.103 ppb12,030
Highway 64 Water AssociationMarion, AR1 of 250.0548 ppb215
Marion Waterworks*Marion, AR1 of 250.0548 ppb13,014
Sunset WaterMarion, AR1 of 250.0548 ppb575
City of Newport*Newport, RI3 of 1160.0517 ppb42,000
Naval Station, NewportNewport, RI3 of 1160.0517 ppb7,871
United States Navy -fort AdamsNewport, RI3 of 1160.0517 ppb318
Portsmouth Water & Fire DistrictPortsmouth, RI3 of 1160.0517 ppb16,864
NJ Water Supply Authority Manasquan*Allenwood, NJ2 of 40.0350 ppb30
Suez Water New Jersey LambertvilleToms River, NJ2 of 40.0225 ppb3,960
Manalapan Township Water District Tracy StationManalapan, NJ1 of 30.0200 ppb800
Suez Water Manalapan MillhurstManalapan, NJ1 of 30.0200 ppb2,100
United Water Matchaponix*Manalapan, NJ1 of 30.0200 ppb0
Newton Water & Sewer UtilityNewton, NJ2 of 40.0150 ppb8,300
Wayne Township Division of WaterWayne, NJ1 of 40.00750 ppb55,000
N.j.d.w.s.c. - Wanaque North*Wanaque, NJ1 of 40.00750 ppb150
Kearny Water Department*Orange, NJ1 of 40.00750 ppb41,664
Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority*Bayonne, NJ1 of 40.00750 ppb63,000

* 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 Diethyl phthalate, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
City of BeltonBelton, TX2 of 160.463 ppb21,214
City of KilleenKilleen, TX2 of 160.463 ppb140,806
City of Harker HeightsHarker Heights, TX2 of 160.463 ppb30,365
US Army South Fort HoodFort Hood, TX2 of 160.463 ppb35,669
City of Copperas Cove*Copperas Cove, TX2 of 160.463 ppb33,919
City of BellmeadBellmead, TX2 of 250.324 ppb10,052
City of Georgetown*Georgetown, TX2 of 260.204 ppb102,687
Ellensburg Water DepartmentEllensburg, WA1 of 90.113 ppb19,960
Lee County WSCGiddings, TX2 of 390.103 ppb12,030
Marion Waterworks*Marion, AR1 of 250.0548 ppb13,014
City of Newport*Newport, RI3 of 1160.0517 ppb42,000
Portsmouth Water & Fire DistrictPortsmouth, RI3 of 1160.0517 ppb16,864
Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority*Bayonne, NJ1 of 40.00750 ppb63,000
Kearny Water Department*Orange, NJ1 of 40.00750 ppb41,664
Wayne Township Division of WaterWayne, NJ1 of 40.00750 ppb55,000

* 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 Diethyl phthalate, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.