A-Z Index of Contaminants in Water

Below are links to information about some potential contaminants that could affect Minnesota waters, such as lakes, rivers, groundwater or drinking water. The links will provide you with information developed by MDH.

For technical summaries about water guidance values for many of the chemicals listed below, please see the Human Health-Based Water Guidance Table.

Additional information about contaminants in water is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s A-Z Index of Water-Related Topics.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Acenaphthene | Acenaphthene and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Acetaminophen | Acetaminophen in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Acetochlor | Acetochlor and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Acetochlor ESA | Acetochlor ESA and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Acetochlor OXA | Acetochlor OXA and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Acrylamide | Acrylamide and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Alachlor, Alachlor ESA, Alachlor OXA | Alachlor and Drinking Water (PDF)
• AHTN (Tonalide) 6-Acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline | AHTN in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) | AMPA in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Amitriptyline | Amitriptyline Screening Profile (PDF)
• Anatoxin-a | Anatoxin-a and Drinking Water (PDF), See also:Blue-Green Algal Blooms, See also: Microcystin
• Androstenedione | Androstenedione Screening Profile (PDF)
• Anthracene | Anthracene and Groundwater (PDF)
• Arsenic | Arsenic in Drinking Water, Arsenic in Well Water, Drinking Water Quality: Arsenic in MN Community Water Systems, Safe Drinking Water For Your Baby

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B

• Bacteria | Bacteria, Viruses and Parasites in Drinking Water, Bacterial Safety of Well Water, Coliform Bacteria, Drinking Water Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts, Iron Bacteria in Well Water, Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Bacteria in Well Water, Pseudomonas
• Bentazon | Bentazon and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Benzo[a]pyrene | Benzo[a]pyrene and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Benzophenone | Benzophenone and Groundwater (PDF)
• 1H-Benzotrizole | 1H-Benzotriazole, Tolyltriazole, 5-Methyl-1H-Benzotriazole and Groundwater (PDF)
• methyl-1H-Benzotriazole (Tolyltriazole) | 1H-Benzotriazole, Tolyltriazole, 5-Methyl-1H-Benzotriazole and Groundwater (PDF)
• 5-methyl-1H-Benzotriazole | 1H-Benzotriazole, Tolyltriazole, 5-Methyl-1H-Benzotriazole and Groundwater (PDF)
• Bifenthrin | Bifenthrin Screening Profile (PDF)
• Bisphenol A | Bisphenol A (BPA) in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Blue-Green Algal Blooms and Microcystin (Cyanobacteria) | Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), See also: Anatoxin-a, See also: Microcystin
• Boron | Boron and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Bromodichloromethane | Bromodichloromethane and Groundwater (PDF)
• Buproprion | Buproprion Screening Profile (PDF)
• Butyl benzyl phthalate | Phthalates and Drinking Water (PDF)

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C

• Cadmium | Cadmium and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Carbadox | Carbadox Screening Profile (PDF)
• Carbamazepine | Carbamazepine in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Chloranil | Chloranil Screening Profile (PDF)
• Chloroform | Chloroform and Drinking Water (PDF), Drinking Water Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts
• Chlorothalonil and 4-Hydroxychlorothalonil and Water | Chlorothalonil and 4-Hydroxychlorothalonil and Water (PDF)
• Chlorpyrifos and Chlorpyrifos Oxon | Chlorpyrifos and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Clothianidin | Clothianidin and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Codeine | Codeine Screening Profile (PDF)
• Coliform Bacteria | Coliform Bacteria, Safe Drinking Water For Your Baby
• Colloidal Silver | Colloidal Silver Screening Progile (PDF)
• Copper | Copper in Drinking Water, Lead and Copper Public Education
• Copper Sulfate | Copper Sulfate Screening Profile (PDF)
• Cryptosporidium | Cryptosporidium (PDF), Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidiosis Fact Sheet
• Cyanazine | Cyanazine in Drinking Water (PDF)

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D

• DADMAC & polyDADMAC | DADMAC & polyDADMAC Screening Profile (PDF)
• decaBDE | decaBDE Screening Profile (PDF)
• DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) | DEET in Drinking Water (PDF) 
• Desvenlafaxine | Venlafaxine and Desvenlafaxine and Drinking Water (PDF) 
• cis-1,2-Dichloroethene | Cis-1,2-dichloroethene and Drinking Water (PDF) 
• 1,1-Dichloroethylene (Vinylidene chloride) | 1,1-Dichloroethylene and Groundwater (PDF)
• Dichlorofluoromethane (DCFM) | Dichlorofluoromethane and Drinking Water (PDF)
• 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) | 2,4-D and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Dieldrin | Dieldrin and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) | Phthalates and Drinking Water (PDF) 
• Dimethenamid and Dimethenamid-p | Dimethenamid and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Dimethenamid ESA and Dimethenamid OXA | Dimethenamid and Drinking Water (PDF) 
• Dinoseb | Dinoseb and Drinking Water (PDF)
• 1,4-Dioxane | 1,4-Dioxane in Drinking Water (PDF), 1,4-Dioxane in Water (PDF)
• Diphenhydramine | Diphenhydramine Screening Profile (PDF)
• Diquat Dibromide | Diquat Dibromide Screening Profile (PDF)
• Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) | Drinking Water Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts
• Drinking Water Standards: Contaminants | Comparison of State Water Guidance and Federal Drinking Water Standards, Safe Drinking Water Act Standards

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E

• Endothall | Endothall Screening Profile (PDF)
• E. coli 0157:H7 and HUS Fact Sheet | E. coli 0157:H7 and HUS Fact Sheet
• Estrone | Estrone Screening Profile (PDF)
• 17α-Ethinylestradiol | 17α-Ethinylestradiol and Mestranol and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Ethylbenzene | Ethylbenzene and Groundwater (PDF)
• Ethylene Dibromide and Water | Ethylene Dibromide and Water (PDF)
• S-Ethyl-N,N-dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) | S-Ethyl-N,N-dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) and Drinking Water (PDF)

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F

• Fluoxetine | Fluoxetine Screening Profile (PDF)
• Fluoranthene | Fluoranthene and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Fluorene (9H-Fluorene) | Fluorene and Groundwater (PDF)
• Fluoride | Drinking Water Fluoridation, Safe Drinking Water For Your Baby
• Fluridone | Fluridone Screening Profile (PDF)
• Formaldehyde | Formaldehyde Screening Profile (PDF)

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G

• Giardiasis | Causes and Symptoms of Giardiasis, Giardiasis, Giardiasis Fact Sheet
• Glyphosate | Glyphosate and Drinking Water (PDF)

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H

• Haloacetic Acids (HAA) | Drinking Water Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts, Drinking Water Quality, Disinfection Byproducts: HAA5
• Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Fact Sheet | Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Fact Sheet
• HBCD | HBCD Screening Profile (PDF)
• HHCB | HHCB Screening Profile (PDF)
• Hydrogen Sulfide Gas (Why Does My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs?) | Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Bacteria in Well Water

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I

• Imazapyr | Imazapyr Screening Profile (PDF)
• Imidacloprid | Imidacloprid and Groundwater (PDF)
• Iopamidol | Iopamido Screening Profile (PDF)
• Iron | Iron in Well Water
• Iron Bacteria | Iron Bacteria in Well Water
• Isobutanol | Isobutanol and Drinking Water (PDF)

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L

• Lead | Lead in Drinking Water, Lead and Copper Public Education, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, Lead in Well Water Systems, Let it Run . . . and get the lead out! (English Version), Let it Run (Hmong Version), Let it Run (Spanish Version), Reducing Children's Exposure to Lead in drinking Water (PDF),Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: A Manual for Minnesota's Schools (PDF), Safe Drinking Water For Your Baby
• Legionella/Legionellosis | Legionella Guidance for Community Public Water Systems, Health Care Facilities, and All Types of Buildings (PDF), About Legionellosis Disease, See also: About Pontiac Fever
• Lincomycin | Lincomycin Screening Profile (PDF)

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M

• Manganese | Manganese in Drinking Water, Manganese in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Mercury | Mercury
• Mestranol | 17α-Ethinylestradiol and Mestranol and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Methane | Methane in Well Water - Consumer Brochure, Methane in Minnesota Well Water - Technical Document
• Methyl and Propyl Parabens | Methyl and Propyl Parabens Screening Profile (PDF)
• Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) | Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Drinking Water (PDF)
• 2-Methylnaphthalene | 2-Methylnaphthalene and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Metolachlor and s-Metolachlor | Metolachlor and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Metolachlor ESA | Metolachlor ESA/OXA and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Metolachlor OXA | Metolachlor ESA/OXA and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Metoprolol | Metoprolol Screening Profile (PDF)
• Metribuzin DA, DK, and DADK | Metribuzin Degradates in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Microbiological Contaminants | Safe Drinking Water Act Standards
• Microcystin | Microcystin-LR in Drinking Water (PDF), See also: Anatoxin-a, See also: Blue-Green Algal Blooms
• MTBE | Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Drinking Water (PDF)

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N

• Naegleria fowleri and Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis | Naegleria fowleri and Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis
• Nanosilver | Nanosilver Screening Profile (PDF)
• N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) | DEET in Drinking Water (PDF) 
• Nitrate | Nitrate in Drinking Water, Nitrate in Well Water, Safe Drinking Water For Your Baby
• N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) | N-Nitrosodimethylamine and Water (PDF)
• Nonylphenol | Nonylphenols and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Nonylphenol Ethoxy-carboxylates | Nonylphenol Ethoxy-carboxylates Screening Profiles (PDF)
• Nonylphenol ethoxylates | Nonylphenol ethoxylates Screening Profiles (PDF)
• Norovirus Fact Sheet | Norovirus Fact Sheet

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O

• Octylphenol | Octylphenol and Drinking Water (PDF)

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P

• PCE (Tetrachloroethylene) | See: Tetrachloroethylene
• Pentachlorophenol (PCP) | Pentachlorophenol and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Pefluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) | PFBS and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) | PFAS in Drinking Water (PDF)
  • PFAS nyob hauv Cov Dej Haus (PDF) (Hmong)
  • PFAS ku jirta Biyaha la Cabo (PDF) (Somali)
  • PFAS en el agua potable (PDF) (Spanish)
• Perfluorochemicals | Perfluorochemicals in Minnesota
• Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) | PFHxS and Groundwater (PDF)
• Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) | PFOS and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Pefluorooactanoate (PFOA) | PFOA and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Pesticides | Pesticides, Safe Drinking Water For Your Baby: Testing Your Well Water for Other Contaminants
• Phthalates | Phthalates and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Pontiac Fever | Pontiac Fever
• Propyl Paraben | Propyl Paraben in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Pseudomonas | Pseudomonas
• Pyraclostrobin | Pyraclostrobin in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Pyrene | Pyrene and Drinking Water (PDF)

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Q

• Quinoline | Quinoline and Groundwater (PDF)

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R

• Radium/Radionuclides | Radionuclides (Radium) in Drinking Water, Radiation - Drinking Water Treatment Overview (PDF), Radiation Safety Guidance at Water Treatment Facilities (PDF), Radioactive Waste Disposal from Water Treatment Facilities (PDF), Risks of Radon in Water Treatment Facilities (PDF)

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S

• Shigellosis (Shigella) Fact Sheet | Shigellosis (Shigella) Fact Sheet
• Skatol | Skatol in Drinking Water (PDF)
• SOCs: Synthetic Organic Chemicals | Safe Drinking Water Act Standards
• Strontium | Strontium and Groundwater (PDF)
• Sulfate | Sulfate in Well Water
• Sulfonamide Antibiotics | Sulfonamide Antibiotics and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Sulfur Bacteria | Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Bacteria in Well Water

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T

• Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) | Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Tetrahydrofuran | Tetrahydrofuran and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Thiamethoxam | Thiamethoxam and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Toluene | Toluene and Groundwater (PDF)
• Tonalide | AHTN in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Tributyl Phosphate | Tributyl Phosphate Screening Profile (PDF)
• 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 1,1,1-Trichloroethane and Your Health (PDF)
• Trichloroethylene (TCE) | Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Your Health
• 1,2,3-Trichloropropane | 1,2,3-TCP in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Triclocarban | Triclocarban and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Triclopyr | Triclopyr Screening Profile (PDF)
• Triclosan | Triclosan in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Trihalomethanes (THMs) | Drinking Water Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts, Drinking Water Quality, Disinfection Byproducts: TTHMs
• Trimethoprim | Trimethoprim Screening Profile (PDF)
• Trimethylbenzenes | Trimethylbenzenes and Groundwater (PDF)
• Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP) | TCEP in Drinking Water (PDF)
• Tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) Phosphate (TDCPP) | TDCPP in Drinking Water (PDF)

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V

• Venlafaxine | Venlafaxine and Desvenlafaxine and Drinking Water (PDF)
• Vinyl Chloride | Vinyl Chloride and Drinking Water (PDF)
• VOCs: Volatile Organic Chemicals | Safe Drinking Water Act Standards

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X

• Xylenes | Xylenes and Groundwater (PDF)

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