Xylenes (Total) in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Long-term exposure above the MCL may cause nervous system damage. Short-term exposure can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, dizziness, and headaches.
📍 Sources in Water
Xylenes are components of gasoline and are used as industrial solvents. They enter water from petroleum product spills, underground storage tank leaks, and industrial discharge.
✅ What To Do
Activated carbon filtration is effective at removing xylenes. Xylenes have a relatively high MCL (10 mg/L) and violations are uncommon in community water systems.
Check your tap water for Xylenes (Total)
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Xylenes (Total) 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.