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Chlorpyrifos in Connecticut Drinking Water

Chlorpyrifos has been detected in water systems serving 3,384 ZIP codes nationwide. Here is what you need to know about chlorpyrifos in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.

What Is Chlorpyrifos?

Chlorpyrifos is a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide that was widely used in agriculture and residential pest control before residential use was banned. It enters groundwater through agricultural runoff. The EPA lifetime health advisory is 2 parts per billion. Chlorpyrifos inhibits acetylcholinesterase and is linked to neurodevelopmental delays and cognitive impairment in children, as well as tremors and neurological effects in adults.

Is Chlorpyrifos in Your Water?

Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if chlorpyrifos is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.

Check Your ZIP Code

Health Effects of Chlorpyrifos

Neurodevelopmental delays, cognitive impairment, tremors

Safety Guidelines

Health Guideline

0.002 mg/L

Source: EPA_Lifetime_Health_Advisory

Where Does Chlorpyrifos Come From?

Agricultural runoff, residential use (now banned)

How to Reduce Chlorpyrifos in Your Water

  1. 1Install a point-of-use activated carbon block filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for pesticide reduction; activated carbon effectively adsorbs organophosphate compounds like chlorpyrifos.
  2. 2A reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 provides additional removal of chlorpyrifos and related pesticide residues.
  3. 3For whole-house well water treatment near agricultural areas, use a granular activated carbon tank system at the point of entry.
  4. 4Test water through a certified laboratory if located near agricultural operations, and replace carbon media according to the manufacturer's schedule to maintain adsorption capacity.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Chlorpyrifos?

The safe level of chlorpyrifos varies significantly depending on who is drinking the water. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for each member of your household:

Infants (under 1 year)
Toddlers (1-3 years)
Children (4-11 years)
Pregnant women
Elderly (65+)
Adults
Dogs
Cats

A contaminant level that is safe for an adult may exceed guidelines for an infant by 4-8x or more. Check your ZIP code to see personalized results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chlorpyrifos in my tap water?
Chlorpyrifos has been detected in water systems across 3,384 ZIP codes. Whether it's in your specific water depends on your local water system. Enter your CT ZIP code at CheckYourTap.com for a free, instant report.
What level of Chlorpyrifos is safe?
The safe level depends on who is drinking the water. The health guideline is 0.002 mg/L, but infants, pregnant women, and pets may need much lower levels. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for 11 different household member types.
How do I remove Chlorpyrifos from my water?
Install a point-of-use activated carbon block filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for pesticide reduction; activated carbon effectively adsorbs organophosphate compounds like chlorpyrifos. A reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 provides additional removal of chlorpyrifos and related pesticide residues. For a personalized consultation, contact Valiant Energy Solutions at (475) 557-5107.

Related Contaminants

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About This Report

This water quality report is compiled from public records filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state health departments, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Contaminant levels are evaluated against EPA federal standards and health-based guidelines from leading environmental and public health organizations. CheckYourTap is a service of Valiant Energy Solutions, a Connecticut water quality and energy services company established in 1930.

EPA SDWISUSGS NWISEWG Tap Water DatabaseCA OEHHA Public Health GoalsWHO Drinking Water Guidelines

Last updated March 2026