Toluene 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 nervous system, kidney, or liver problems. Pregnant women exposed to high levels may have children with developmental problems.
📍 Sources in Water
Found in gasoline and used as an industrial solvent in paints, lacquers, and adhesives. Enters water from fuel spills, underground storage tank leaks, and industrial discharge.
✅ What To Do
Activated carbon filters are effective at removing toluene. Toluene has a relatively high MCL (1 mg/L) and violations are uncommon; most occur near fuel or industrial spills near wellfields.
Check your tap water for Toluene
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Toluene 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.