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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Lindane

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Lindane is a neurotoxic and carcinogenic insecticide phased out of agricultural use in the U.S. since 2002. It is prescribed to treat lice or scabies, although safer alternatives are available.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

10

states detected

59

utilities detected

1.2 million

people served

1

states over health guideline

6

utilities over health guideline

17,520

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for lindane

Cancer

Harm to the brain and nervous system

Harm to the immune system

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.032 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.032 ppb for lindane 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) 0.2 ppb

The legal limit for lindane, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting lindane in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Florida00181,046,317
Colorado617,52025103,916
North Carolina00310,842
Illinois0049,699
New Mexico0038,687
New York0012,985
Wyoming001800
Nebraska002481
Texas001378
Louisiana001120
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce lindane

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of lindane, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Sundown CoveDenver, NC5 of 80.0238 ppb246
Tilden, City ofTilden, NE1 of 30.0223 ppb951
Oak Meadows Service Company*Glenwood Springs, CO1 of 90.0211 ppb180
Oak Meadows Subdivision IIGlenwood Springs, CO1 of 90.0211 ppb50
Wilsonville, Village ofWilsonville, NE1 of 40.0203 ppb71
Mount Houston SquareHouston, TX1 of 20.0200 ppb93
Lamplighter Mobile Home ParkLakewood, CO1 of 40.0190 ppb651
Countryside Village Of DenverLakewood, CO1 of 40.0190 ppb1,000
Denver Cascade Mobile Home ParkLakewood, CO1 of 40.0190 ppb1,200
Holiday Hills VillageWheat Ridge, CO1 of 40.0190 ppb986
Kimberly Hills Mobile Home ParkLakewood, CO1 of 40.0190 ppb2,005
City of Federal Heights*Federal Heights, CO1 of 40.0190 ppb11,678
H O E Water Supply CorporationPinehurst, TX1 of 30.0167 ppb378
Miller, Village ofMiller, NE1 of 40.0158 ppb136
Jones CreekwoodFreeport, TX1 of 20.0150 ppb51
Mid Valley Md*Basalt, CO1 of 150.0107 ppb4,500
Dayspring Health Public Water SystemHilliard, FL1 of 100.00990 ppb64
Mitchell Cooper Ditch PipelineGlenwood Springs, CO1 of 70.00943 ppb1,200
Aberdeen, Town of*Aberdeen, NC23 of 1000.00928 ppb10,380
Village of BriarcliffBriarcliff, TX1 of 90.00889 ppb1,438
Marquette, Village ofMarquette, NE1 of 80.00838 ppb108
City of SnookSnook, TX1 of 60.00833 ppb650
Grand Lakes Municipal Utility District 2Houston, TX1 of 80.00750 ppb2,070
Grand Lakes Municipal Utility District 1Houston, TX1 of 80.00750 ppb3,204
Grand Lakes Municipal Utility District 4*Houston, TX1 of 80.00750 ppb2,985
Sopris Village Homeowners AssociationCarbondale, CO1 of 60.00733 ppb425
Columbia County Water SystemLake City, FL1 of 10.00710 ppb75
Leray Town Water District 2 & 4Watertown, NY1 of 160.00688 ppb6,000
Forestbrook S/dCharlotte, NC2 of 90.00667 ppb216
Harris County UD 16Houston, TX1 of 60.00667 ppb4,472
El Jebel Mobile Home ParkEl Jebel, CO1 of 30.00633 ppb1,962
MohawkMohawk, NY1 of 60.00633 ppb2,985
Travis County WCID 17Austin, TX1 of 130.00615 ppb43,074
Forest Lakes MdColorado Springs, CO1 of 50.00600 ppb294
Harris County Municipal Utility District 152Houston, TX1 of 90.00556 ppb7,353
St. Lucie Mobile VillageIndiantown, FL1 of 20.00500 ppb750
Powder Mill EstatesTomball, TX1 of 60.00500 ppb342
Waterview Condominium AssociationBasalt, CO1 of 60.00500 ppb30
Yampa, Town ofYampa, CO1 of 90.00456 ppb467
Coronado Shores Water SystemSilverton, TX1 of 70.00429 ppb150
Olney Springs, Town ofOlney Springs, CO1 of 50.00420 ppb399
Upland, Village ofUpland, NE1 of 110.00418 ppb176
Homestead Park S/dDenver, NC1 of 50.00380 ppb137
Entranosa Water and Wastewater Co-op*Tijeras, NM1 of 60.00350 ppb8,500
East Mountain Water HaulingTijeras, NM1 of 60.00350 ppb124
Vista De MananaTijeras, NM1 of 60.00350 ppb63
Soldier Canyon Filter Plant*Ft Collins, CO1 of 110.00309 ppb0
East Larimer County WD*Fort Collins, CO1 of 110.00309 ppb20,503
North Weld County WD*Lucerne, CO1 of 110.00309 ppb10,640
Stapleton, Village ofStapleton, NE1 of 200.00300 ppb305

* 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 Lindane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
City of Federal Heights*Federal Heights, CO1 of 40.0190 ppb11,678
Aberdeen, Town of*Aberdeen, NC23 of 1000.00928 ppb10,380
Travis County WCID 17Austin, TX1 of 130.00615 ppb43,074
East Larimer County WD*Fort Collins, CO1 of 110.00309 ppb20,503
North Weld County WD*Lucerne, CO1 of 110.00309 ppb10,640
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 160.000181 ppb127,700
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL1 of 250 ppb251,502
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL1 of 250 ppb12,717
Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA Major Grid)*Jacksonville, FL1 of 1350 ppb739,834

* 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 Lindane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.