Xylenes (total)
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Xylenes are solvents used in industrial and consumer products, such as cleaning agents and paint thinners. Xylenes cause nervous system damage and may harm developing fetuses.
2015:
41
states detected
1,279
utilities detected
11 million
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for xylenes
Harm to the brain and nervous system
Change to the central nervous system
Change to fetal growth and development
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 1,800 ppb
The health guideline of 1,800 ppb for xylenes 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 the brain and nervous system.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10,000 ppb
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)10,000 ppb
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
ppb = parts per billion.
States reporting xylenes in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Texas | 428 | 5,680,952 | |
| Indiana | 11 | 852,125 | |
| New Mexico | 22 | 731,507 | |
| Florida | 72 | 523,260 | |
| Wisconsin | 64 | 417,884 | |
| Pennsylvania | 45 | 334,332 | |
| Arizona | 17 | 274,582 | |
| Alabama | 23 | 229,305 | |
| Mississippi | 63 | 220,154 | |
| Iowa | 82 | 213,971 | |
| Virginia | 48 | 201,059 | |
| Illinois | 32 | 186,418 | |
| New Jersey | 25 | 177,535 | |
| Minnesota | 22 | 162,726 | |
| Tennessee | 7 | 108,330 | |
| Missouri | 50 | 104,831 | |
| Georgia | 36 | 88,149 | |
| North Carolina | 60 | 86,560 | |
| South Carolina | 4 | 77,141 | |
| Delaware | 7 | 74,332 | |
| Colorado | 32 | 73,126 | |
| Kentucky | 7 | 45,492 | |
| California | 8 | 30,455 | |
| Arkansas | 20 | 24,744 | |
| Oklahoma | 13 | 24,219 | |
| Ohio | 13 | 23,983 | |
| Louisiana | 8 | 13,970 | |
| Oregon | 5 | 11,922 | |
| Utah | 9 | 10,855 | |
| Washington | 4 | 9,089 | |
| Kansas | 5 | 8,863 | |
| Alaska | 11 | 5,425 | |
| Hawaii | 2 | 4,574 | |
| Nevada | 5 | 3,380 | |
| West Virginia | 3 | 2,383 | |
| Maryland | 5 | 1,970 | |
| Maine | 1 | 1,748 | |
| Wyoming | 5 | 1,242 | |
| Montana | 3 | 1,134 | |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 120 | |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 30 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of xylenes, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Falls Water System Uicn | Pahrump, NV | 1 of 2 | 90.0 ppb | 1,718 |
| Hawaii Volcanoes Nat.park | Hawaii National Park, HI | 2 of 2 | 66.3 ppb | 3,374 |
| Felton Water Department | Felton, DE | 1 of 1 | 61.4 ppb | 1,591 |
| Wayland Water Supply | Wayland, IA | 1 of 1 | 59.0 ppb | 966 |
| Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 23 | Bellaire, TX | 4 of 4 | 53.4 ppb | 3,528 |
| Dean Water Supply Corporation | Tyler, TX | 2 of 4 | 37.6 ppb | 4,761 |
| Harrisville W/a | Harrisville, MS | 3 of 4 | 35.6 ppb | 2,133 |
| Whitt Water Supply Corporation | Whitt, TX | 1 of 1 | 34.9 ppb | 115 |
| Newport Water District | Newport, ME | 1 of 2 | 34.5 ppb | 1,748 |
| Manchester Water District | Manchester, WA | 1 of 5 | 34.0 ppb | 8,148 |
| Manville WSC* | Coupland, TX | 6 of 10 | 33.4 ppb | 23,937 |
| Saxton Municipal Water Authority | Saxton, PA | 1 of 3 | 31.5 ppb | 1,000 |
| Glendale Water Supply Corporation | Trinity, TX | 1 of 3 | 30.6 ppb | 1,263 |
| Montgomery County UD 4* | Houston, TX | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppb | 4,491 |
| Hca Roan Filter Plant* | Hazleton, PA | 2 of 4 | 23.7 ppb | 40,620 |
| Pond Creek* | Pond Creek, OK | 1 of 1 | 23.3 ppb | 982 |
| Texas 281 Rv Park | Bulverde, TX | 1 of 2 | 23.0 ppb | 407 |
| Saluda, Town of | Rockville, VA | 1 of 2 | 22.9 ppb | 328 |
| Bushland Water Supply Corporation | Bushland, TX | 1 of 1 | 21.2 ppb | 220 |
| Spinnaker Point | Littleton, NC | 1 of 3 | 20.3 ppb | 143 |
| Turkey Pen Mobile Home Park | Pisgah Forest, NC | 1 of 1 | 19.0 ppb | 229 |
| Kingston Town Water Utilities | Kingston, NV | 1 of 1 | 18.9 ppb | 350 |
| Hachita Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association | Hachita, NM | 4 of 4 | 18.8 ppb | 100 |
| Stratford Harbour | Alexandria, VA | 9 of 12 | 18.6 ppb | 1,215 |
| Laurel Mountain Lakes Water Association | Madisonville, TN | 3 of 3 | 17.8 ppb | 254 |
| Gladbrook Water Supply | Gladbrook, IA | 1 of 1 | 15.0 ppb | 945 |
| Quail Valley Utility District* | Missouri City, TX | 4 of 7 | 14.9 ppb | 13,317 |
| North Slope Borough - Anaktuvuk Pass | Barrow, AK | 4 of 4 | 14.6 ppb | 350 |
| City of Cleburne | Cleburne, TX | 3 of 9 | 14.6 ppb | 30,000 |
| Jordan Woods S/d | Garner, NC | 4 of 4 | 14.5 ppb | 70 |
* 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 Xylenes (total), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manville WSC* | Coupland, TX | 6 of 10 | 33.4 ppb | 23,937 |
| Hca Roan Filter Plant* | Hazleton, PA | 2 of 4 | 23.7 ppb | 40,620 |
| Quail Valley Utility District* | Missouri City, TX | 4 of 7 | 14.9 ppb | 13,317 |
| City of Cleburne | Cleburne, TX | 3 of 9 | 14.6 ppb | 30,000 |
| Warren Water District* | Indianola, IA | 2 of 2 | 14.0 ppb | 18,045 |
| Porter SUD* | Porter, TX | 4 of 10 | 8.57 ppb | 15,892 |
| Tifton-Tift County Water System* | Tifton, GA | 4 of 4 | 7.18 ppb | 24,871 |
| Larchmont Utilities | Savannah, GA | 2 of 7 | 6.40 ppb | 11,799 |
| Harris County MUD 165* | Houston, TX | 3 of 7 | 6.00 ppb | 17,763 |
| Hobbs Municipal Water Supply | Hobbs, NM | 1 of 2 | 4.90 ppb | 37,877 |
| City of Jasper | Jasper, TX | 2 of 5 | 3.70 ppb | 10,388 |
| City of Jacksonville* | Jacksonville, TX | 2 of 8 | 2.95 ppb | 14,544 |
| Lindale Rural WSC | Lindale, TX | 3 of 5 | 2.84 ppb | 12,315 |
| City of Gulfport | Gulfport, MS | 3 of 13 | 2.70 ppb | 72,935 |
| Greendale Waterworks | Greendale, WI | 2 of 2 | 2.45 ppb | 14,046 |
| City of Buda | Buda, TX | 2 of 6 | 2.25 ppb | 10,680 |
| Southern Utilities* | Tyler, TX | 7 of 37 | 2.24 ppb | 59,154 |
| City of Kyle* | Kyle, TX | 3 of 3 | 2.20 ppb | 25,443 |
| Weston Municipal Utilities | Weston, WI | 1 of 2 | 2.05 ppb | 15,045 |
| River Falls Waterworks | River Falls, WI | 2 of 3 | 1.79 ppb | 14,477 |
| Bellefontaine City PWS | Bellefontaine, OH | 3 of 4 | 1.77 ppb | 13,370 |
| Albuquerque Water System* | Albuquerque, NM | 4 of 5 | 1.71 ppb | 601,983 |
| City of Mount Holly* | Mt Holly, NC | 1 of 1 | 1.70 ppb | 13,656 |
| Espanola Water System* | Espanola, NM | 4 of 4 | 1.55 ppb | 10,495 |
| City of Lincolnton* | Lincolnton, NC | 1 of 1 | 1.50 ppb | 10,487 |
| Benton City WSC | Lytle, TX | 3 of 6 | 1.27 ppb | 17,292 |
| City of Beeville* | Beeville, TX | 1 of 1 | 1.10 ppb | 15,039 |
| Lake Utility Services Inc North* | Clermont, FL | 2 of 12 | 1.08 ppb | 21,518 |
| Margate City Water Department | Margate, NJ | 4 of 4 | 1.04 ppb | 25,545 |
| City of Houston Utility District 5 - Kingwood* | Houston, TX | 1 of 6 | 1.02 ppb | 78,078 |
* 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 Xylenes (total), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.