Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

City of Rochester

NOTE: City of Rochester purchases water from North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority which is required to test for dichloromethane (methylene chloride). Sample information shown below was taken by North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority.

Methylene chloride is a common industrial solvent used for paint stripping, vapor degreasing, printing, electronics manufacturing and cleaning. It causes cancer and liver damage in animal studies. Read More.

Surface and groundwater can be contaminated with methylene chloride from industrial releases and landfill leaching. The EPA considers methylene chloride likely carcinogenic to people. Long-term ingestion of drinking water with methylene chloride contamination can cause liver damage and cancer. Occupational exposure to methylene chloride and other solvents has been linked with increased risk of miscarriage. Birth defects have also been observed in studies of laboratory animals exposed to methylene chloride during pregnancy.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

26

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND10ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND10ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 4 ppb for dichloromethane (methylene chloride) 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 dichloromethane, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

NOTE: City of Rochester purchases water from North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority which is required to test for dichloromethane (methylene chloride). Sample information shown below was taken by North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-13Q1806366023ND
2018-02-13Q1806366017ND
2018-05-15Q1819778005ND
2018-09-10Q1835655007ND
2019-09-10Q1963432002ND
2019-09-10Q1963432004ND
2019-09-10Q1963432006ND
2019-09-10Q1963432008ND
2020-05-26Q2020617010ND
2020-05-26Q2020617012ND
2020-05-26Q2020617014ND
2020-09-15Q2036511001ND
2021-03-01Q2105128004ND
2021-03-01Q2105128002ND
2021-05-18Q2112967013ND
2021-08-24Q2122978005ND
2021-08-24Q2122978013ND
2021-12-09Q2134685004ND
2022-03-02Q2207242006ND
2022-03-02Q2207242008ND
2022-03-02Q2207242010ND
2022-09-07Q2226614008ND
2023-03-08Q2309188005ND
2023-05-16Q2318416003ND
2023-05-16Q2318416005ND
2023-09-05Q2338005004ND