o-Dichlorobenzene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
o-Dichlorobenzene is used as a chemical intermediate for making agricultural herbicides. It is toxic to the liver, kidneys and the nervous system, and causes cancer in animal studies.
2017-2019:
10
states detected
40
utilities detected
393,000
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 o-dichlorobenzene
Cancer
Harm to the central nervous system
Harm to the liver
Harm to the kidney
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 600 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 600 ppb for o-dichlorobenzene 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 internal organs.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 600 ppb
The legal limit for o-dichlorobenzene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1970s.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting o-dichlorobenzene in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Florida | 18 | 342,491 | |
| Virginia | 1 | 21,006 | |
| New York | 10 | 9,242 | |
| Louisiana | 3 | 6,948 | |
| Ohio | 1 | 6,400 | |
| Mississippi | 2 | 3,427 | |
| New Jersey | 2 | 2,740 | |
| Delaware | 1 | 126 | |
| Vermont | 1 | 126 | |
| Colorado | 1 | 88 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce o-dichlorobenzene
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of o-dichlorobenzene, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Mendota | Mendota, CA | 1 of 7 | 7.10 ppb | 11,104 |
| Duffey's Trailer Park | Plant City, FL | 1 of 5 | 4.40 ppb | 85 |
| Town of Mayersville | Mayersville, MS | 3 of 3 | 1.12 ppb | 725 |
| Coburn Mobile Home Park | Montpelier, VT | 7 of 7 | 1.04 ppb | 126 |
| Freeman Creek | Bayfield, CO | 1 of 4 | 0.700 ppb | 88 |
| Ausable Heights Water System | Keeseville, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 46 |
| City of Hollandale | Hollandale, MS | 1 of 11 | 0.345 ppb | 2,702 |
| Harmony Homes | Altamonte Springs, FL | 2 of 11 | 0.327 ppb | 158 |
| Florida Pines Mobile Home Park | Venice, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 280 |
| Wrentham Water Division | Wrentham, MA | 2 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 11,686 |
| St. Lucie Mobile Village | Indiantown, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 750 |
| Indiantown Company | Indiantown, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 5,847 |
| Cedar Springs Mobile Home Park Well # | Cape May Court House, NJ | 11 of 14 | 0.146 ppb | 90 |
| Parkview Mobile Home Park | Thonotosassa, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.140 ppb | 60 |
| Perry Center Water District | Perry, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.125 ppb | 150 |
| Perry Village* | , NY | 1 of 4 | 0.125 ppb | 4,348 |
| Gardeau Water District | Castile, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.125 ppb | 60 |
| Silver Lake Institute - Castile Water District #1 | , NY | 1 of 4 | 0.125 ppb | 440 |
| Woodland Water District | Auburn, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.1000 ppb | 465 |
| Elm Hill Water District | Auburn, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.1000 ppb | 2,260 |
| Cherry Valley/ Rochdale Water District | Leicester, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.1000 ppb | 3,337 |
| Millbury Ind. Park/ Park Hill Village | Millbury, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.1000 ppb | 400 |
| Paxton Water Department | Paxton, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.1000 ppb | 4,045 |
| Worcester Department of Public Works* | Worcester, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.1000 ppb | 181,045 |
| Woodbine Municipal Utilities Authority | Woodbine, NJ | 3 of 6 | 0.0833 ppb | 2,650 |
| Village of Morse Water System | Morse, LA | 2 of 8 | 0.0775 ppb | 957 |
| Crescent City Water Treatment Plant | Crescent City, FL | 1 of 7 | 0.0657 ppb | 1,800 |
| Peg Leg Cove Water System | Scott, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.0583 ppb | 189 |
| South Toledo Bend Water District* | Many, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.0583 ppb | 5,802 |
| Springhill Mobile Home Park | Wappingers Falls, NY | 1 of 9 | 0.0556 ppb | 150 |
| Farm-to-market Associates | Brewster, NY | 1 of 9 | 0.0556 ppb | 48 |
| City of Stuart - Water Plant | Stuart, FL | 18 of 215 | 0.0522 ppb | 19,000 |
| Berwick Bayou Vista Water Works Commission* | Berwick, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.0450 ppb | 0 |
| Town of Berwick | Berwick, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.0450 ppb | 4,430 |
| St. Mary Parish Water & Sewer #2 Bayou Vista | Patterson, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.0450 ppb | 4,652 |
| Sunrise Southwest | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1 of 5 | 0.0440 ppb | 9,457 |
| Fern Crest Utilities Inc. | Ft Lauderdale, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.0417 ppb | 3,123 |
| Goldonna Water System* | Goldonna, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.0417 ppb | 435 |
| Burkesville Water Works* | Burkesville, KY | 1 of 17 | 0.0412 ppb | 2,566 |
| Oak Grove Water System | Oak Grove, LA | 2 of 14 | 0.0400 ppb | 3,102 |
| Valley View Estates | Macungie, PA | 1 of 21 | 0.0333 ppb | 68 |
| Palm Lake Estates North | Riviera Beach, FL | 3 of 47 | 0.0327 ppb | 480 |
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 3 of 47 | 0.0327 ppb | 34,700 |
| Palm Lake Estates South | Riviera Bch, FL | 3 of 47 | 0.0327 ppb | 700 |
| North Attleboro Water Department* | North Attleborough, MA | 1 of 37 | 0.0230 ppb | 28,712 |
| Springport Water District #1 - North | Cayuga, NY | 1 of 24 | 0.0208 ppb | 500 |
| Springport Water District #1 - South | Cayuga, NY | 1 of 24 | 0.0208 ppb | 500 |
| Union Springs Village* | Union Springs, NY | 1 of 24 | 0.0208 ppb | 3,000 |
| Paradise Estates | Newark, DE | 1 of 10 | 0.0200 ppb | 126 |
| City of Broussard Highway 90 Water System | Broussard, LA | 2 of 50 | 0.0200 ppb | 3,087 |
* 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 o-Dichlorobenzene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Mendota | Mendota, CA | 1 of 7 | 7.10 ppb | 11,104 |
| Wrentham Water Division | Wrentham, MA | 2 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 11,686 |
| Worcester Department of Public Works* | Worcester, MA | 1 of 6 | 0.1000 ppb | 181,045 |
| City of Stuart - Water Plant | Stuart, FL | 18 of 215 | 0.0522 ppb | 19,000 |
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 3 of 47 | 0.0327 ppb | 34,700 |
| North Attleboro Water Department* | North Attleborough, MA | 1 of 37 | 0.0230 ppb | 28,712 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 14 | 0.0179 ppb | 127,700 |
| Lee County Utilities* | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 18 | 0.0144 ppb | 251,502 |
| Gateway Services District | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 18 | 0.0144 ppb | 12,717 |
| Wallingford Water Department | Wallingford, CT | 1 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 37,267 |
| City of Waynesboro | Waynesboro, VA | 1 of 6 | 0.00823 ppb | 21,006 |
* 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 o-Dichlorobenzene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.