Benzene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Benzene is a known human carcinogen. It also damages blood cells and the nervous system. Emissions from petroleum processing, hazardous waste landfills and underground storage tanks contaminate drinking water with benzene. Read More.
To protect against cancer risks, California set a public health goal for benzene in drinking water at 0.15 parts per billion, 30 times lower than the federal legal limit of 5 parts per billion.
2015-2017:
28
states detected
120
utilities detected
2.7 million
people served
18
states over health guideline
51
utilities over health guideline
221,000
people served over health guideline
1
states over legal limit
1
utilities over legal limit
1,089
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for benzene
Cancer
Harm to blood cells
Harm to the central nervous system
Harm to child development
Harm to the immune system
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.15 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.15 ppb for benzene 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 benzene, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to benzene exposure.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting benzene in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 17 | 62,377 | 31 | 1,153,066 | |||
| Florida | 2 | 5,045 | 15 | 599,327 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 155,515 | |||
| Alabama | 1 | 2,880 | 4 | 134,388 | |||
| New York | 8 | 17,778 | 10 | 121,778 | |||
| Tennessee | 1 | 95,501 | 1 | 95,501 | |||
| New Jersey | 3 | 550 | 8 | 65,809 | |||
| Minnesota | 1 | 1,963 | 5 | 60,343 | |||
| Idaho | 0 | 0 | 1 | 59,001 | |||
| California | 1 | 13,800 | 6 | 50,396 | |||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 1 | 37,267 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2,014 | 4 | 26,868 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26,121 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 2 | 23,688 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15,104 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10,513 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8,375 | |||
| Wyoming | 1 | 8,000 | 1 | 8,000 | |||
| Georgia | 6 | 3,137 | 6 | 3,137 | |||
| Utah | 2 | 1,860 | 2 | 1,860 | |||
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1,840 | 1 | 1,840 | |||
| New Hampshire | 1 | 1,688 | 1 | 1,688 | |||
| North Carolina | 2 | 878 | 3 | 1,295 | |||
| Missouri | 1 | 1,089 | 1 | 1,089 | |||
| Iowa | 1 | 785 | 1 | 785 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 1 | 383 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 1 | 84 | |||
| Washington | 1 | 54 | 2 | 80 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce benzene
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of benzene, 2015-2017
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Franklin PWS | New Franklin, MO | 1 of 1 | 6.45 ppb | 1,089 |
| Wright City Water Supply Corporation 1 | Troup, TX | 3 of 3 | 2.51 ppb | 1,242 |
| Bethel Ash Water Supply Corporation Bethel Plant | Athens, TX | 5 of 11 | 1.68 ppb | 195 |
| Pineora Water System | Savannah, GA | 12 of 12 | 1.38 ppb | 94 |
| Tignall Water System | Tignal, GA | 2 of 6 | 1.28 ppb | 835 |
| City of Jacinto City | Jacinto City, TX | 5 of 6 | 1.28 ppb | 10,500 |
| Wakefield S/d | Raleigh, NC | 12 of 15 | 1.22 ppb | 391 |
| Dalhart Municipal Water System | Dalhart, TX | 4 of 13 | 1.12 ppb | 8,256 |
| Linda County Water District | Marysville, CA | 26 of 49 | 1.10 ppb | 13,800 |
| Treichel Woods Estates | Pinehurst, TX | 3 of 3 | 0.933 ppb | 183 |
| Picnic Grove Mobile Homes | Malaga, NJ | 20 of 25 | 0.861 ppb | 250 |
| Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 23 | Bellaire, TX | 7 of 12 | 0.800 ppb | 3,528 |
| Hart Municipal Water System | Hart, TX | 3 of 3 | 0.797 ppb | 1,198 |
| Parkton, Town of | Parkton, NC | 2 of 3 | 0.743 ppb | 487 |
| Ephesus | Roopville, GA | 6 of 11 | 0.664 ppb | 1,352 |
| Harris County Municipal Utility District 11 | Houston, TX | 1 of 4 | 0.625 ppb | 3,345 |
| Adrian | Adrian, GA | 4 of 9 | 0.611 ppb | 664 |
| Comanche County Rural Water District #2 | Elgin, OK | 1 of 9 | 0.536 ppb | 1,840 |
| Blooming Prairie | Blooming Prairie, MN | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 1,963 |
| Ferron - Castle Valley Special Service District* | Castledale, UT | 13 of 44 | 0.473 ppb | 1,660 |
| Clawson Water System | Castledale, UT | 13 of 44 | 0.473 ppb | 200 |
| West Bend Water Department | West Bend, IA | 1 of 2 | 0.450 ppb | 785 |
| City of Refugio | Refugio, TX | 4 of 9 | 0.444 ppb | 3,960 |
| Jackson, Town Of | Jackson, WY | 3 of 7 | 0.433 ppb | 8,000 |
| Tarkington Special Utility District | Cleveland, TX | 5 of 12 | 0.350 ppb | 4,031 |
| Jackson Water System | Jackson, TN | 26 of 142 | 0.333 ppb | 95,501 |
| Stoney Field Mobile Home Park | Pittsford, NJ | 7 of 7 | 0.324 ppb | 200 |
| City of Bay City | Bay City, TX | 6 of 19 | 0.311 ppb | 17,614 |
| Parker Little River Water System | Acworth, GA | 1 of 6 | 0.283 ppb | 114 |
| Hunters Creek Mobile Home Park | Orchard Park, NY | 20 of 41 | 0.272 ppb | 150 |
| Powder Mill Estates | Tomball, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.267 ppb | 342 |
| Garden Court Mutual | Port Orchard, WA | 1 of 3 | 0.263 ppb | 54 |
| Blue Mountain Lake Utility Association | Bushkill, PA | 1 of 5 | 0.260 ppb | 2,014 |
| Riverwood Estates | Clayton, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 30 |
| Indiantown Company | Indiantown, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 5,000 |
| M J C Water Supply Corporation | Pattonville, TX | 1 of 7 | 0.246 ppb | 942 |
| City of Hallettsville | Hallettsville, TX | 3 of 11 | 0.236 ppb | 2,585 |
| Long`s Mobile Home Park | Fayetteville, GA | 1 of 3 | 0.213 ppb | 78 |
| Oak Grove Mobile Home Park | Wall, NJ | 1 of 1 | 0.210 ppb | 100 |
| Rollinsford Water and Sewer | Rollinsford, NH | 2 of 13 | 0.208 ppb | 1,688 |
| Hudson House Alf | Hudson, FL | 1 of 1 | 0.200 ppb | 45 |
| Midland City Water Department* | Midland City, AL | 1 of 3 | 0.177 ppb | 2,880 |
| Fleetwood Manor Water District | Wappingers Falls, NY | 1 of 36 | 0.171 ppb | 564 |
| Chelsea Ridge Apartments | Albany, NY | 1 of 36 | 0.171 ppb | 2,303 |
| Glenham Water District | Fishkill, NY | 1 of 36 | 0.171 ppb | 2,246 |
| Beacon Hills Water District | Fishkill, NY | 1 of 36 | 0.171 ppb | 999 |
| Blodgett Water District | Fishkill, NY | 1 of 36 | 0.171 ppb | 149 |
| Fishkill Village* | Fishkill, NY | 1 of 36 | 0.171 ppb | 11,337 |
| Harris County Municipal Utility District 304* | Houston, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 4,158 |
| Quailwood Water System | Houston, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 48 |
* 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 Benzene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Jacinto City | Jacinto City, TX | 5 of 6 | 1.28 ppb | 10,500 |
| Linda County Water District | Marysville, CA | 26 of 49 | 1.10 ppb | 13,800 |
| Jackson Water System | Jackson, TN | 26 of 142 | 0.333 ppb | 95,501 |
| City of Bay City | Bay City, TX | 6 of 19 | 0.311 ppb | 17,614 |
| Fishkill Village* | Fishkill, NY | 1 of 36 | 0.171 ppb | 11,337 |
| Western Virginia Water Authority* | Roanoke, VA | 3 of 27 | 0.117 ppb | 155,000 |
| Saint Louis Park | St. Louis Park, MN | 8 of 30 | 0.0897 ppb | 45,505 |
| City of Norco* | Norco, CA | 2 of 14 | 0.0821 ppb | 27,160 |
| Swta - Main System* | Allentown, PA | 1 of 18 | 0.0500 ppb | 16,000 |
| City of Saginaw | Saginaw, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0465 ppb | 20,500 |
| City of Crowley | Crowley, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0465 ppb | 14,800 |
| City of Burleson | Burleson, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0465 ppb | 43,960 |
| City of Forest Hill | Forest Hill, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0465 ppb | 13,689 |
| City of Fort Worth* | Fort Worth, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0465 ppb | 806,380 |
| City of Haltom City | Haltom City, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0465 ppb | 42,640 |
| City of Southlake | Southlake, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0465 ppb | 30,144 |
| City of Keller | Keller, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0465 ppb | 44,620 |
| Dothan Utilities* | Dothan, AL | 4 of 66 | 0.0429 ppb | 90,069 |
| Minden Water System | Minden, LA | 2 of 18 | 0.0422 ppb | 16,950 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.0417 ppb | 128,729 |
| Alexandria | Alexandria, MN | 4 of 35 | 0.0403 ppb | 12,415 |
| Aqua NJ - Eastern Division | Hamilton, NJ | 2 of 15 | 0.0313 ppb | 12,000 |
| Wallingford Water Department | Wallingford, CT | 1 of 17 | 0.0294 ppb | 37,267 |
| City of Idaho Falls | Idaho Falls, ID | 1 of 14 | 0.0250 ppb | 59,001 |
| Lee County Utilities* | Fort Myers, FL | 1 of 7 | 0.0143 ppb | 236,944 |
| New Philadelphia City PWS | New Philadelphia, OH | 1 of 72 | 0.0111 ppb | 17,288 |
| South Alabama Utilities Water System | Citronelle, AL | 1 of 60 | 0.00950 ppb | 39,249 |
| Hempstead | Hempstead, NY | 2 of 179 | 0.00670 ppb | 56,000 |
| City of Tallahassee* | Tallahassee, FL | 1 of 28 | 0.00643 ppb | 193,927 |
| Cedarburg L & W Commission | Cedarburg, WI | 2 of 72 | 0.00472 ppb | 11,900 |
| Hammonton Water Department | Hammonton, NJ | 1 of 18 | 0.00333 ppb | 12,153 |
| Monroe Twp MUA | Williamstown, NJ | 1 of 156 | 0.00314 ppb | 36,100 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 1 of 683 | 0.000791 ppb | 48,000 |
* 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 Benzene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.