2,4-D in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Long-term exposure above the MCL can cause kidney, liver, or adrenal gland problems. 2,4-D is one of the most widely used herbicides in the US and is currently under review by the EPA for potential cancer risk.
📍 Sources in Water
Applied to lawns, crops, and rights-of-way. One of the most widely used herbicides globally. Enters water through agricultural and residential runoff. An active ingredient in many common lawn weedkillers.
✅ What To Do
Activated carbon filtration and reverse osmosis can reduce 2,4-D. Violations in community water systems are uncommon but can occur in agricultural regions during spring runoff.
Check your tap water for 2,4-D
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had 2,4-D violations, plus lead testing results and an overall safety grade.
Search your ZIP code →Data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). MCLs reflect minimum federal standards; some contaminants may pose health risks below these thresholds.