Skip to content
Inorganics

Lithium in Connecticut Drinking Water

By Alexander Snyder, Founder & Water Quality Data Lead

The health-based safe level for Lithium, set by the U.S. EPA, is 0.01 mg/L. This health-protective guideline is typically stricter than federal legal limits, which have not always been updated to reflect current science.

Lithium has been tracked across Connecticut drinking water. Here is what you need to know about lithium in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.

What Is Lithium?

Lithium is a naturally occurring alkali metal that dissolves into groundwater from lithium-bearing minerals in igneous and sedimentary rock. It is also released through industrial discharge from battery manufacturing and pharmaceutical production. The WHO drinking water guideline is 10 micrograms per liter. At elevated concentrations, lithium can affect the nervous system, thyroid function, and kidney health.

Is Lithium in Your Water?

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

Check Your ZIP Code

Health Effects of Lithium

Neurological and thyroid effects at high concentrations

Safety Guidelines

Health Guideline

0.01 mg/L

Source: U.S. EPA

Lithium's health-based safe level is set below the federal legal limit.

Legal limit versus health-based guideline for Lithium in drinking water
StandardLevelSource
Health Guideline0.01 mg/LU.S. EPA

Where Does Lithium Come From?

Natural deposits; industrial discharge

How to Reduce Lithium in Your Water

  1. 1Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which effectively removes dissolved lithium through membrane rejection.
  2. 2Distillation units can reduce lithium concentrations since the metal remains in the boiling chamber while purified water is collected as steam.
  3. 3Standard activated carbon filters are not effective at removing lithium; ensure your chosen treatment method specifically addresses dissolved metals and minerals.
  4. 4Test your water through a certified laboratory to establish baseline lithium levels, and retest after installing treatment to confirm adequate reduction.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Lithium?

The safe level of lithium 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.

Reading this inside ChatGPT or Claude?

This page can tell you the general science, but not what is actually in your water’s lithium level — that depends on your exact address. You can get your specific answer two ways:

  • Inside the chat: ask your assistant to “check my tap water with CheckYourTap”. Our connector returns your ZIP code’s measured contaminant levels — including the derived dog and cat safe levels — and, only if you ask it to, can email you the report or arrange a specialist callback.
  • On the web: open CheckYourTap.com and enter your ZIP code for a free 30-second report.

Concerned about Lithium in your water?

Schedule to get your water tested for lithium and more — a Valiant water specialist will review your results and arrange testing for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lithium in my tap water?
Lithium has been tracked across Connecticut drinking water. 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 Lithium is safe?
The safe level depends on who is drinking the water. The health guideline is 0.01 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 Lithium from my water?
Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which effectively removes dissolved lithium through membrane rejection. Distillation units can reduce lithium concentrations since the metal remains in the boiling chamber while purified water is collected as steam. For a personalized consultation, contact Valiant Energy Solutions at (475) 557-5107.

Related Contaminants

Check Water Quality by ZIP Code

View all contaminants in Connecticut water

Sources

The legal limits and health guidelines for Lithium on this page come from the following public authorities:

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

This report is general information, not medical advice or a substitute for certified laboratory testing. Talk to your pediatrician or physician about specific health concerns.

Reviewed by the CheckYourTap editorial team. Last updated July 2026