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."
2015-2017:
5
states detected
31
utilities detected
555,000
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 | Utilities | People Served | |
Texas | 14 | 406,174 | |
New Jersey | 14 | 147,979 | |
New Hampshire | 1 | 650 | |
Rhode Island | 1 | 300 | |
Arkansas | 1 | 160 |
Filtering technologies that reduce diethyl phthalate

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of diethyl phthalate, 2015-2017
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
City of Bruceville Eddy | Eddy, TX | 1 of 6 | 2.50 ppb | 5,508 |
City of Mcgregor* | Mc Gregor, TX | 1 of 4 | 1.88 ppb | 5,600 |
Quonochontaug East Beach Water Association | Charlestown, RI | 1 of 2 | 1.50 ppb | 300 |
Andover Village District | Andover, NH | 1 of 1 | 1.20 ppb | 650 |
Bell County Water Control and Improvement District 1* | Killeen, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 264 |
Bell County Water Control and Improvement District 3 | Nolanville, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 4,259 |
City of Killeen | Killeen, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 140,806 |
City of Belton | Belton, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 21,214 |
439 Water Supply Corporation | Belton, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 6,985 |
US Army South Fort Hood | Fort Hood, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 35,669 |
City of Copperas Cove* | Copperas Cove, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 33,919 |
City of Harker Heights | Harker Heights, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 30,365 |
City of Bellmead | Bellmead, TX | 2 of 13 | 0.623 ppb | 9,900 |
City of Georgetown* | Georgetown, TX | 2 of 13 | 0.408 ppb | 98,776 |
Mill Pond Village Mobile Home Park | Hot Springs, AR | 1 of 3 | 0.310 ppb | 160 |
Lee County WSC | Giddings, TX | 2 of 23 | 0.174 ppb | 12,030 |
NJ Water Supply Authority Manasquan* | Allenwood, NJ | 2 of 2 | 0.0700 ppb | 30 |
Suez Water New Jersey Lambertville | Lambertville, NJ | 2 of 2 | 0.0450 ppb | 4,960 |
Newton Water & Sewer Utility | Newton, NJ | 2 of 2 | 0.0300 ppb | 8,300 |
Manalapan Township Water District Tracy Station | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 2 | 0.0300 ppb | 256 |
Suez Water Manalapan Millhurst | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 2 | 0.0300 ppb | 2,100 |
United Water Matchaponix* | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 2 | 0.0300 ppb | 0 |
* 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.
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
City of Belton | Belton, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 21,214 |
City of Killeen | Killeen, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 140,806 |
City of Harker Heights | Harker Heights, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 30,365 |
US Army South Fort Hood | Fort Hood, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 35,669 |
City of Copperas Cove* | Copperas Cove, TX | 2 of 8 | 0.925 ppb | 33,919 |
City of Georgetown* | Georgetown, TX | 2 of 13 | 0.408 ppb | 98,776 |
Lee County WSC | Giddings, TX | 2 of 23 | 0.174 ppb | 12,030 |
* 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.