Chlorine Dioxide in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Short-term exposure above the MCL can cause nervous system effects and anemia in infants and young children. Chlorine dioxide and its byproduct chlorite are regulated because of these concerns.
📍 Sources in Water
Chlorine dioxide is used as an alternative disinfectant, particularly by systems that want to avoid TTHM and HAA5 formation. It is generated on-site at treatment plants.
✅ What To Do
If your utility has a chlorine dioxide violation, contact them for details. Reverse osmosis can reduce chlorine dioxide and its byproducts. Such violations are uncommon and typically indicate a dosing problem at the treatment plant.
Check your tap water for Chlorine Dioxide
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Chlorine Dioxide 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.