Tribufos in Connecticut Drinking Water
By Alexander Snyder, Founder & Water Quality Data Lead
Tribufos has been tracked across Connecticut drinking water. 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.
Concerned about Tribufos in your water?
Schedule to get your water tested for tribufos and more — a Valiant water specialist will review your results and arrange testing for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tribufos in my tap water?▾
What level of Tribufos is safe?▾
How do I remove Tribufos from my water?▾
Related Contaminants
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Sources
The legal limits and health guidelines for Tribufos 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