Tribufos in Connecticut Drinking Water
Tribufos has been detected in water systems serving 3,383 ZIP codes nationwide. Here is what you need to know about tribufos in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.
What Is Tribufos?
Tribufos is an organophosphate defoliant used primarily in cotton production to remove leaves before mechanical harvesting. It enters groundwater through agricultural runoff from treated fields. No EPA maximum contaminant level has been established. Tribufos inhibits cholinesterase enzyme activity, and exposure can cause neurological symptoms including muscle weakness, tremors, and respiratory difficulty.
Is Tribufos in Your Water?
Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if tribufos is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.
Check Your ZIP CodeHealth Effects of Tribufos
Cholinergic symptoms, neurological effects
Where Does Tribufos Come From?
Cotton defoliant runoff
How to Reduce Tribufos in Your Water
- 1Install a point-of-use activated carbon block filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for pesticide reduction; activated carbon effectively adsorbs organophosphate defoliants.
- 2A reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 provides additional removal of tribufos and related organophosphate compounds.
- 3For well water near cotton-growing regions, use a granular activated carbon tank system at the point of entry for whole-house treatment.
- 4Test water through a certified laboratory if located near cotton farming operations, and replace filter media before adsorption capacity is exhausted.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to Tribufos?
The safe level of tribufos 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Last updated March 2026