Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

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.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

28

states detected

95

utilities detected

971,000

people served

18

states over health guideline

47

utilities over health guideline

222,000

people served over health guideline

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 UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Florida410,63517342,374
Alabama003134,451
Tennessee195,501195,501
Texas1352,1911469,805
Minnesota00262,390
California234,056549,417
Utah21,860334,860
New Jersey1250432,050
North Carolina2895428,787
Pennsylvania21,813424,835
Ohio00223,688
Louisiana1957311,497
Oklahoma00111,442
New York65,194129,463
Alaska0018,375
Wyoming18,00018,000
Delaware0016,422
Michigan0016,366
Virginia32,75032,750
Illinois22,72022,720
Georgia31,92931,929
New Hampshire11,68811,688
Wisconsin002873
Iowa17851785
Connecticut001285
Arkansas12651265
Montana12251225
Washington00196
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce benzene

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of benzene, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
New Franklin PWSNew Franklin, MO1 of 23.23 ppb1,089
Wright City Water Supply Corporation 1Troup, TX6 of 62.45 ppb1,242
Pollard WaterworksPollard, AR1 of 111.90 ppb265
Tignall Water SystemTignal, GA5 of 141.64 ppb835
Bethel Ash Water Supply Corporation Bethel PlantAthens, TX6 of 141.44 ppb195
Hart Municipal Water SystemHart, TX6 of 61.39 ppb1,198
Pineora Water SystemSavannah, GA20 of 241.37 ppb94
Wakefield S/dCary, NC24 of 301.37 ppb408
City of Jacinto CityJacinto City, TX6 of 91.10 ppb10,625
Barrow County Water System*Winder, GA1 of 11.000 ppb14,043
Dalhart Municipal Water SystemDalhart, TX8 of 250.975 ppb8,256
Linda County Water DistrictMarysville, CA43 of 830.942 ppb13,800
Lomita Water DepartmentLomita, CA3 of 80.930 ppb20,256
Picnic Grove Mobile HomesMalaga, NJ42 of 510.842 ppb250
Jackson, Town OfJackson, WY8 of 120.789 ppb8,000
West Bend Water DepartmentWest Bend, IA2 of 30.633 ppb785
Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 23Bellaire, TX10 of 200.620 ppb3,528
Treichel Woods EstatesPinehurst, TX4 of 60.617 ppb183
Golden Estates Trailer CourtHelena, MT2 of 50.578 ppb225
Cold Brook Fd Base AreaWilmington, VT3 of 130.577 ppb761
Jackson Water SystemJackson, TN91 of 3960.572 ppb95,501
Parkton, Town ofParkton, NC5 of 100.551 ppb487
Rollinsford Water and SewerRollinsford, NH8 of 310.548 ppb1,688
Blooming PrairieBlooming Prairie, MN1 of 10.500 ppb1,987
AdrianAdrian, GA4 of 110.500 ppb664
Ausable Heights Water SystemKeeseville, NY1 of 10.500 ppb46
City of RefugioRefugio, TX6 of 130.423 ppb2,834
Ferron - Castle Valley Special Service District*Castle Dale, UT14 of 540.398 ppb1,660
Clawson Water SystemCastle Dale, UT14 of 540.398 ppb200
Comanche County Rural Water District #2Elgin, OK1 of 130.371 ppb1,840
City of ReklawReklaw, TX1 of 100.370 ppb627
Tarkington Special Utility DistrictCleveland, TX7 of 160.369 ppb4,769
Harris County Municipal Utility District 11Houston, TX1 of 70.357 ppb3,345
Nokomis*Nokomis, IL3 of 340.347 ppb2,370
CoaltonNokomis, IL3 of 340.347 ppb350
EphesusRoopville, GA6 of 220.332 ppb1,000
Sunny Acres Mobilehome ParkErie, PA1 of 30.303 ppb60
Old Marsh CondominiumScarborough, ME1 of 20.295 ppb218
City of HallettsvilleHallettsville, TX6 of 200.260 ppb2,585
Hunters Creek Mobile Home ParkOrchard Park, NY36 of 770.256 ppb150
Florida Pines Mobile Home ParkVenice, FL1 of 20.250 ppb280
Halfway Water Supply CorporationPlainview, TX1 of 130.245 ppb49
Stoney Field Mobile Home ParkPittsford, NJ8 of 130.218 ppb200
City of Bay CityBay City, TX8 of 340.212 ppb17,614
Parker Little River Water SystemAcworth, GA2 of 120.185 ppb114
New Garden/finney - RcpsaLebanon, VA2 of 260.185 ppb375
Thompson Creek RcpsaLebanon, VA2 of 260.185 ppb125
Honaker, Town of*Honaker, VA2 of 260.185 ppb2,250
Bluff Dale Water Supply CorporationBluff Dale, TX2 of 60.182 ppb250
Harris County Municipal Utility District 368Houston, TX2 of 80.175 ppb9,906

* 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.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
City of Jacinto CityJacinto City, TX6 of 91.10 ppb10,625
Barrow County Water System*Winder, GA1 of 11.000 ppb14,043
Linda County Water DistrictMarysville, CA43 of 830.942 ppb13,800
Lomita Water DepartmentLomita, CA3 of 80.930 ppb20,256
Jackson Water SystemJackson, TN91 of 3960.572 ppb95,501
City of Bay CityBay City, TX8 of 340.212 ppb17,614
City of Norco*Norco, CA5 of 210.140 ppb27,160
Fishkill Village*Fishkill, NY1 of 600.103 ppb11,337
City of Tomball*Tomball, TX1 of 80.0875 ppb12,924
Dothan Utilities*Dothan, AL11 of 970.0692 ppb93,459
Saint Louis ParkSt. Louis Park, MN8 of 480.0560 ppb47,221
Western Virginia Water Authority*Roanoke, VA3 of 570.0554 ppb155,000
GuymonGuymon, OK1 of 180.0472 ppb11,442
AlexandriaAlexandria, MN4 of 370.0381 ppb13,340
Midvale City Water SystemMidvale, UT4 of 650.0369 ppb33,000
Aqua NJ - Eastern DivisionHamilton, NJ4 of 310.0323 ppb12,000
US Army Aviation and Missile CommandRedstone Arsenal, AL1 of 130.0292 ppb38,700
City of SouthlakeSouthlake, TX1 of 340.0232 ppb32,000
City of CrowleyCrowley, TX1 of 340.0232 ppb14,800
City of SaginawSaginaw, TX1 of 340.0232 ppb22,380
City of Haltom CityHaltom City, TX1 of 340.0232 ppb44,134
City of Fort Worth*Fort Worth, TX1 of 340.0232 ppb853,762
City of Forest HillForest Hill, TX1 of 340.0232 ppb13,689
City of BurlesonBurleson, TX1 of 340.0232 ppb43,960
City of KellerKeller, TX1 of 340.0232 ppb44,620
EdinaEdina, MN1 of 190.0200 ppb49,050
Minden Water SystemMinden, LA2 of 400.0190 ppb16,950
City of Idaho FallsIdaho Falls, ID1 of 190.0184 ppb61,500
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 140.0179 ppb127,700
Wallingford Water DepartmentWallingford, CT1 of 350.0143 ppb37,267
Swta - Main System*Allentown, PA1 of 660.0136 ppb14,500
City of KinstonKinston, NC1 of 800.0125 ppb27,475
Long Beach Water DepartmentLong Beach, CA1 of 1790.0123 ppb470,292
Signal Hill - City, Water DepartmentSignal Hill, CA2 of 2760.0119 ppb11,411
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL9 of 2140.0105 ppb19,000
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL2 of 180.0101 ppb251,502
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL2 of 180.0101 ppb12,717
Stafford Twp Water - Beach Haven WestManahawkin, NJ1 of 420.00833 ppb28,863
Riviera Beach Utility District*Riviera Beach, FL2 of 470.00691 ppb34,700
Point Pleasant Water DepartmentPoint Pleasant, NJ2 of 380.00605 ppb19,600
New Philadelphia City PWSNew Philadelphia, OH1 of 1400.00571 ppb17,288
South Alabama Utilities Water SystemCitronelle, AL1 of 1180.00483 ppb39,249
HempsteadHempstead, NY4 of 4970.00477 ppb56,000
Vineland Water & Sewer UtilityVineland, NJ1 of 1590.00440 ppb36,250
West Deptford Twp Water DepartmentThorofare, NJ1 of 120.00417 ppb22,000
Cedarburg L & W CommissionCedarburg, WI2 of 1360.00250 ppb11,900
City of Tallahassee*Tallahassee, FL1 of 890.00202 ppb193,927
Monroe Twp MUAWilliamstown, NJ2 of 2960.00179 ppb26,179
Hammonton Water DepartmentHammonton, NJ1 of 380.00158 ppb12,153
Hicksville WDHicksville, NY3 of 1,3920.00114 ppb48,000

* 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.