Water Contaminants Database
Explore drinking water contaminants, health risks, testing methods, treatment technologies, regulatory context, and global occurrence patterns.
Contaminant Search Engine
Search Contaminants by name, category, risk level, and treatment method.
Featured Profiles
PFAS (Forever Chemicals)
Highly persistent synthetic chemicals associated with drinking water contamination, industrial activity, firefighting foam, landfills, wastewater systems, and long-term environmental persistence.
View Complete PFAS Profile →Lead
Toxic heavy metal commonly associated with lead service lines, old plumbing systems, solder, and corrosion inside buildings.
View Complete Lead Profile →Arsenic
Naturally occurring toxic element commonly found in groundwater, aquifers, mining regions, and certain geological formations worldwide.
View Complete Arsenic Profile →Mercury
Toxic heavy metal associated with mining activity, industrial discharge, coal combustion, contaminated sediments, and aquatic ecosystems.
View Complete Mercury Profile →Chromium
Industrial heavy metal contaminant associated with metal plating, manufacturing, industrial discharge, mining activities, and groundwater pollution.
View Complete Chromium Profile →Cadmium
Toxic heavy metal associated with mining activity, industrial discharge, batteries, metal refining, and contaminated groundwater.
View Complete Cadmium Profile →Nitrate
One of the most widespread drinking water contaminants worldwide, commonly associated with agriculture, fertilizers, livestock operations, and groundwater pollution.
View Complete Nitrate Profile →Microplastics
Tiny plastic particles found in tap water, bottled water, surface water, groundwater, and aquatic environments worldwide. One of the most studied emerging drinking water contaminants.
View Complete Microplastics Profile →Database Coverage
- Industrial Chemicals
- Heavy Metals
- Microbial Contaminants
- Agricultural Pollutants
- Emerging Contaminants
- Physical Water Quality Parameters
Contaminant Categories
Microbial Contaminants
66+ profiles published
- E. coli
- Legionella
- Cryptosporidium
- Giardia
- Norovirus
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- Shigella
- Enterococci
- Coliform Bacteria
- Clostridium perfringens
- Aeromonas
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Rotavirus
- Adenovirus
- Enterovirus
- Hepatitis A Virus
- Hepatitis E Virus
- Sapovirus
- Astrovirus
- Naegleria fowleri
- Acanthamoeba
- Free-Living Amoebae (FLA)
- Balamuthia mandrillaris
- Legionella pneumophila
- Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC)
- Acanthamoeba
- Acinetobacter baumannii
- Adenovirus
- Aeromonas
- Algal Toxins
- Arcobacter
- Astrovirus
- BK Polyomavirus
- Bacteriophages
- Balamuthia mandrillaris
- Balantidium coli
- Biofilm Bacteria
- Burkholderia pseudomallei
- Campylobacter
- Clostridium perfringens
- Coliform Bacteria
- Coxsackievirus
- Cryptosporidium
- Cyanobacteria
- Cyclospora cayetanensis
- Dracunculus medinensis
- Echovirus
- Entamoeba histolytica
- Enterococci
- Enterovirus
- F-specific RNA Coliphages
- Fecal Coliforms
- Francisella tularensis
- Free-Living Amoebae (FLA)
- Giardia
- Helicobacter pylori
- Hepatitis A Virus
- Hepatitis E Virus
- Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) Bacteria
- JC Polyomavirus
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Legionella
- Legionella pneumophila
- Leptospira
- Microbial Biofilms
- Microsporidia
- Mimivirus
- Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC)
- Naegleria fowleri
- Norovirus
- Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens
- Poliovirus
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Reovirus
- Rotavirus
- Salmonella
- Sapovirus
- Schistosoma Cercariae
- Serratia marcescens
- Shigella
- Somatic Coliphages
- Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
- Thermotolerant Coliforms
- Torque Teno Virus
- Total Coliforms
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Vibrio cholerae
- Vibrio parahaemolyticus
- Vibrio vulnificus
- Yersinia enterocolitica
Heavy Metals
40+ profiles published
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Mercury
- Chromium
- Cadmium
- Iron
- Manganese
- Copper
- Nickel
- Aluminum
- Selenium
- Zinc Antimony
- Arsenic
- Barium
- Beryllium
- Bismuth
- Boron
- Cadmium
- Cerium
- Cesium
- Chromium
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Gallium
- Germanium
- Indium
- Iron
- Lanthanum
- Lead
- Lithium
- Manganese
- Mercury
- Molybdenum
- Nickel
- Palladium
- Platinum
- Rare Earth Elements
- Rhodium
- Rubidium
- Selenium
- Silver
- Strontium
- Tellurium
- Thallium
- Tin
- Titanium
- Total Heavy Metals
- Tungsten
- Vanadium
- Zinc
Industrial Chemicals
72+ profiles published
- PFAS
- PCBs
- Industrial Solvents
- Chlorine Byproducts
- Industrial Runoff
- Dioxins
- Benzene
- Toluene
- Xylene
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Vinyl Chloride
- 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
- 1,1-Dichloroethylene
- 1,2-Dichloroethane
- 1,2-Dichloropropane
- 1,3-Dichloropropene
- Acetaldehyde
- Acetone
- Acetonitrile
- Acrylonitrile
- Aniline
- Anthracene
- Benzene
- Benzidine
- Benzo[a]pyrene
- Carbon Tetrachloride
- Chloroform
- Coal Tar Contaminants
- Creosote
- Cresols
- DEHP
- Di-n-butyl Phthalate
- Dichloromethane
- Diesel Range Organics
- Diethyl Phthalate
- Dioxins
- Epichlorohydrin
- Ethylbenzene
- Ethylene Oxide
- Fluoranthene
- Formaldehyde
- Gasoline Range Organics
- Hexachlorobenzene
- Hexachlorobutadiene
- Industrial Solvents
- Industrial Wastewater Effluent
- MTBE
- Methyl Ethyl Ketone
- Methyl Isobutyl Ketone
- Naphthalene
- Nitrobenzene
- Nonylphenol
- Octylphenol
- PAHs
- PCBs
- PFAS
- Petroleum Hydrocarbons
- Phenol
- Phthalates
- Propylene Oxide
- Pyrene
- RDX
- Styrene
- TNT
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Toluene
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl Chloride
- Xylene
- cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
- trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
Agricultural Pollutants
60+ profiles published
- Nitrate
- Nitrite
- Atrazine
- Glyphosate
- 2,4-D
- Metolachlor
- Alachlor
- Agricultural Runoff
- 2,4-D
- Acetochlor
- Agricultural Runoff
- Alachlor
- Aldicarb
- Aldrin
- Atrazine
- Azoxystrobin
- Bentazon
- Captan
- Carbaryl
- Carbofuran
- Chlordane
- Chlorothalonil
- Chlorpyrifos
- Clopyralid
- Cyanazine
- DDD
- DDE
- DDT
- Diazinon
- Dicamba
- Dichlorprop
- Dieldrin
- Dimethenamid
- Diquat
- Diuron
- Endosulfan
- Fertilizer Residues
- Glufosinate
- Glyphosate
- Heptachlor
- Heptachlor Epoxide
- Imazapyr
- Imazethapyr
- Imidacloprid
- Irrigation Return Flow
- Lindane
- Linuron
- Livestock Waste Runoff
- MCPA
- Malathion
- Mancozeb
- Manure Lagoon Leakage
- Mecoprop
- Methomyl
- Metolachlor
- Metribuzin
- Neonicotinoids
- Nitrate
- Nitrite
- Paraquat
- Pendimethalin
- Picloram
- Propazine
- S-Metolachlor
- Simazine
- Terbuthylazine
- Toxaphene
- Trifluralin
Emerging Contaminants
62+ profiles published
- Microplastics
- Nanoplastics
- Endocrine Disruptors
- Pharmaceutical Residues
- Personal Care Products
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Triclosan
- Perchlorate
- 1,4-Dioxane
- PFOS
- PFOA
- GenX Chemicals
- PFHxS
- Microcystins
- Cyanotoxins
- Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
- Cylindrospermopsin
- Anatoxin-a
- 1,4-Dioxane
- 6:2 FTS
- 8:2 FTS
- ADONA
- Acesulfame-K
- Anatoxin-a
- Antibiotic Residues
- Antibiotic Resistance Genes
- Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Benzotriazoles
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Caffeine
- Carbamazepine
- Carbon Nanotubes
- Cyanotoxins
- Cylindrospermopsin
- Diclofenac
- Endocrine Disruptors
- Environmental DNA
- Estrogens
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- F-53B
- Flame Retardants
- GenX Chemicals
- Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
- Hormones
- Ibuprofen
- Microcystins
- Microplastics
- Nanomaterials
- Nanoplastics
- Naproxen
- Nicotine Metabolites
- Octinoxate
- Organophosphate Flame Retardants
- Oxybenzone
- PBDEs
- PFBA
- PFBS
- PFDA
- PFDoDA
- PFHpA
- PFHxA
- PFHxS
- PFNA
- PFOA
- PFOS
- PFUnDA
- Perchlorate
- Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids
- Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonic Acids
- Personal Care Products
- Pharmaceutical Residues
- Prions
- Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
- Siloxanes
- Silver Nanoparticles
- Sucralose
- Sunscreen Chemicals
- Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
- Triclosan
Radioactive Contaminants
41+ profiles published
- Uranium
- Radium
- Radon
- Gross Alpha Radiation
- Alpha Emitters
- Americium
- Beryllium-7
- Beta Emitters
- Carbon-14
- Cesium-137
- Coal Ash Radioactivity
- Cobalt-60
- Gamma Emitters
- Gross Alpha Radiation
- Gross Beta Radiation
- Iodine-131
- Lead-210
- Man-Made Radionuclides
- Medical Isotope Residues
- Mining-Related Radioactivity
- NORM Contamination
- Natural Radioactivity
- Nuclear Facility Releases
- Oil and Gas TENORM
- Phosphate Mining Radioactivity
- Plutonium
- Polonium-210
- Potassium-40
- Radioactive Fallout
- Radioactive Groundwater
- Radioactive Scale
- Radioactive Sediments
- Radium
- Radium-226
- Radium-228
- Radon
- Radon Progeny
- Ruthenium-106
- Strontium-90
- TENORM Contamination
- Technetium-99
- Thorium
- Tritium
- Uranium
- Uranium Decay Products
Physical Water Quality Parameters
51+ profiles published
- Turbidity
- TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)
- Sediment
- Color Odor Issues
- Acidity
- Aesthetic Water Quality
- Alkalinity
- Bicarbonate
- Biofilm Slime
- Black Particles
- Black Stains
- Blue-Green Stains
- Calcium in Water
- Carbonate
- Chloride Taste
- Clay Particles
- Cloudy Water
- Color & Odor Issues
- Color Units
- Conductivity
- Corrosive Water
- Dissolved Organic Carbon
- Dissolved Oxygen
- Earthy Musty Odor
- Electrical Conductivity
- Foaming Agents
- Foamy Water
- High pH Water
- Langelier Saturation Index
- Low pH Water
- Magnesium in Water
- Metallic Taste
- Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP)
- Potassium in Water
- Red-Brown Stains
- Salinity
- Sand in Water
- Scale Formation
- Sediment
- Silica
- Silt in Water
- Slime in Water
- Sodium in Water
- Sulfur Smell
- TDS
- Taste Issues
- Temperature
- Total Organic Carbon
- Total Suspended Solids
- Turbidity
- UV254 Absorbance
- Water Hardness
- Water Staining
- White Particles
- pH Imbalance
Water Treatment Chemicals
30+ profiles published
- Chlorine
- Chloramine
- Fluoride
- Acrylamide Monomer
- Alum
- Ammonia
- Calcium Hypochlorite
- Carbon Dioxide
- Chloramine
- Chlorine
- Chlorine Dioxide
- Coagulant Residuals
- Corrosion Inhibitors
- Epichlorohydrin Residuals
- Ferric Chloride
- Ferric Sulfate
- Ferrous Sulfate
- Flocculant Residuals
- Fluoride
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Lime
- Orthophosphate
- Ozone Residuals
- Phosphates
- Polyaluminum Chloride
- Polymer Residuals
- Polyphosphate
- Potassium Permanganate
- Soda Ash
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Sodium Hypochlorite
- Sodium Silicate
- pH Adjustment Chemicals
Common Household Water Problems
30+ profiles published
- Air Bubbles in Water
- Black Water
- Blue Stains
- Brown Water
- Chloramine Taste
- Chlorine Taste
- Cloudy Tap Water
- Copper from Plumbing
- Corrosion Byproducts
- Dead-End Plumbing
- Green Stains
- Hard Water Scale
- Hot Water Odor
- Hydrogen Sulfide
- Iron Bacteria
- Lead from Plumbing
- Low Disinfectant Residual
- Manganese Bacteria
- Milky Water
- Orange Slime
- Pink Slime
- Rotten Egg Odor
- Rusty Water
- Sediment from Pipes
- Stagnant Water
- Sulfur Bacteria
- Water Heater Sediment
- Well Water Odor
- Well Water Staining
- White Scale
Disinfection Byproducts
34+ profiles published
- Trihalomethanes (THMs)
- Haloacetic Acids (HAAs)
- Bromate
- Chlorite
- Chlorate
- Adsorbable Organic Halides
- Bromate
- Brominated DBPs
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chloramination Byproducts
- Chlorate
- Chlorite
- Chloropicrin
- Cyanogen Chloride
- Dibromoacetic Acid
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic Acid
- Dichloroacetonitrile
- Disinfection Byproduct Precursors
- Haloacetamides
- Haloacetic Acids (HAAs)
- Haloacetonitriles
- Haloketones
- Iodinated DBPs
- Iodo-THMs
- Iodoacetic Acid
- MX Mutagen
- Monobromoacetic Acid
- Monochloroacetic Acid
- N-Nitrosodiethylamine
- N-Nitrosodimethylamine
- NDMA
- Nitrosamines
- Ozonation Byproducts
- Total Organic Halogen
- Trichloroacetic Acid
- Trichloroacetonitrile
- Trihalomethanes (THMs)