Benzene in Tap Water
Benzene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) found in gasoline and industrial solvents. It can reach groundwater from fuel leaks, industrial discharge, and landfills.
Leaking underground fuel tanks, industrial discharge, and landfill leachate reaching groundwater.
- 1Leaking fuel storage tanks
- 2Industrial discharge
- 3Landfill leachate
Most affected: Anyone on an affected system over the long term.
A result is read with its context
This contaminant is tracked through federal and state compliance monitoring. Benzene is volatile, so sampling and handling follow specific methods to avoid loss before analysis. PurityMap does not yet publish a per-system measured value for Benzene; this page is a reference explainer. To learn what is in your own water, check your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or use a certified home test.
- Above reference
- Evidence exceeds a reference level.
- Detected
- This substance was found in the monitoring record. Being present is not the same as being above a reference level, and this signal does not say which.
- Not detected
- Somebody looked and the laboratory reported nothing above its reporting limit. This is a result, and it is not the same as nobody looking.
- Not monitored
- No sampling for this substance has been reported for this system. Nothing is known either way, and an empty row is not a clean one.
No city results or violations published yet
- MeasurementsPendingNo per-system values
PurityMap does not yet publish a measured value for benzene.
- ViolationsCheckedNone on the federal record
No city in PurityMap’s record has a benzene violation in EPA SDWIS since 2016.
- CitiesPendingNo detections on record
No city in PurityMap’s record shows benzene detected.
This fills in as monitoring data is published. Until then, your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report lists its results, or use a certified home test.
What can carry a benzene reduction claim
- Activated carbon (GAC)
Highly porous adsorption media targeting chlorine, disinfection byproducts, volatile organic compounds, and organic chemicals.
- Packed-tower aeration (air stripping)
- Reverse osmosis
Semi-permeable membrane separation removing dissolved minerals, heavy metals, and persistent fluorinated chemicals down to 0.0001 microns.
Boiling does not remove a dissolved chemical compound and can concentrate it. Many pitcher and refrigerator filters carry no verified claim for a compound like this at all.
A finding establishes the need, the need names the capability, the capability requires a verified certification. No product appears before that sequence completes. Filter Finder →
Frequently asked
Answers cite the same records as the page. How PurityMap analyzes water data
Benzene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) found in gasoline and industrial solvents. It can reach groundwater from fuel leaks, industrial discharge, and landfills.
The enforceable federal limit is 0.005 mg/L / 5 µg/L (MCL). The health-based goal (MCLG) is 0. PurityMap reads every measurement against its stated benchmark and never sets its own.
Leaking fuel storage tanks, Industrial discharge, Landfill leachate.
Benzene is a known human carcinogen; long-term exposure above the limit is linked to blood disorders and leukemia. Because it is a carcinogen with no established risk-free level, the health goal is zero.
Treatment technologies commonly certified to reduce Benzene include Activated carbon (GAC), Packed-tower aeration (air stripping), Reverse osmosis. Match the exact certified claim to your water before buying. Holding a format is not the same as holding the claim.