Quinoline in Connecticut Drinking Water
By Alexander Snyder, Founder & Water Quality Data Lead
The health-based safe level for Quinoline, set by the U.S. EPA, is 0.00001 mg/L. This health-protective guideline is typically stricter than federal legal limits, which have not always been updated to reflect current science.
Quinoline has been tracked across Connecticut drinking water. Here is what you need to know about quinoline in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.
What Is Quinoline?
Quinoline is a nitrogen-containing organic compound derived from coal tar, creosote, and petroleum refining. It enters water through industrial discharge from dye manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and contaminated industrial sites. The health guideline is 0.6 parts per billion. Quinoline is associated with liver damage and is classified as a possible carcinogen based on evidence of liver tumors in animal studies.
Is Quinoline in Your Water?
Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if quinoline is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.
Check Your ZIP CodeHealth Effects of Quinoline
Liver damage, potential cancer
Safety Guidelines
Health Guideline
0.00001 mg/L
Source: U.S. EPA
Quinoline's health-based safe level is set below the federal legal limit.
| Standard | Level | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health Guideline | 0.00001 mg/L | U.S. EPA |
Where Does Quinoline Come From?
Coal tar, dye manufacturing
How to Reduce Quinoline in Your Water
- 1Install a point-of-use activated carbon block filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for organic contaminant reduction; activated carbon effectively adsorbs polycyclic nitrogen compounds.
- 2A reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 provides additional removal of quinoline and related organic compounds.
- 3For whole-house treatment, use a granular activated carbon system at the point of entry to reduce quinoline in all household water.
- 4Test water through a certified laboratory if located near coal tar processing sites, dye manufacturing, or petroleum refineries, and replace carbon media on the recommended schedule.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to Quinoline?
The safe level of quinoline varies significantly depending on who is drinking the water. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for each member of your household:
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 quinoline 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 Quinoline in your water?
Schedule to get your water tested for quinoline and more — a Valiant water specialist will review your results and arrange testing for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quinoline in my tap water?▾
What level of Quinoline is safe?▾
How do I remove Quinoline from my water?▾
Related Contaminants
Check Water Quality by ZIP Code
Sources
The legal limits and health guidelines for Quinoline 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.
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