VOCs & pesticides
Xylenes in U.S. tap water
29 public water systems across 10 U.S. states report Xylenes in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. None currently sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
A group of industrial solvents found in gasoline and paint.
Why it's regulated
Long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the nervous system.
Within the federal limit (29)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Fishers, IN 2024 annual report | 3 ug/L |
| Indianapolis, IN 2024 annual report | 3 ug/L |
| Morgan County, IN 2024 annual report | 0–3 ug/L |
| Westfield, IN 2024 annual report | 0–3 ug/L |
| Fontana, CA 2024 annual report | 0.05 ug/L |
| Houston, TX 2023 annual report | 0.4 ug/L |
| Phoenix, AZ 2025 annual report | 0.0025 mg/L |
| New Braunfels, TX 2024 annual report | 0.0013 mg/L |
| Durham, NC 2024 annual report | 0.00079 mg/L |
| League City, TX 2024 annual report | 0.0007 mg/L |
| Sugar Land, TX 2024 annual report | 0.0006 mg/L |
| Charlotte Hall, MD 2024 annual report | Not detected mg/L |
| City of Hampton, VA 2024 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| City of Newport News, VA 2025 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| City of Poquoson, VA 2025 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| City of Poquoson, VA 2024 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| Cleveland, OH 2024 annual report | Not detected |
| Columbus, OH 2025 annual report | Not detected |
| Hampton, VA 2025 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| High Point, NC 2024 annual report | Not detected mg/L |
| James City County, VA 2025 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| James City County, VA 2024 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| Mobile, AL 2024 annual report | Not detected |
| Montgomery, AL 2024 annual report | Not detected |
| Nashville, TN 2023 annual report | Not detected |
| Newport News, VA 2024 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| Plano, TX 2024 annual report | 0–0 mg/L |
| York County, VA 2024 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| York County, VA 2025 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
Frequently asked
+What is Xylenes?
A group of industrial solvents found in gasoline and paint. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the nervous system.
+What is the federal limit for Xylenes in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Xylenes is 10 mg/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (typically a running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+How many U.S. water systems have Xylenes over the federal limit?
Zero of the 29 public water systems in The Water Map dataset currently report Xylenes at or above its federal limit.
+How can I check if Xylenes is in my city's tap water?
Search your city on The Water Map (https://www.thewatermap.com/) or browse the list on this page. Every U.S. public water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report that lists every contaminant it measured, including Xylenes.