Perchlorate in Drinking Water: Health Risks, Sources, and How to Remove It
Perchlorate is an inorganic contaminant that can sometimes be found in drinking water. Under the Environmental Protection Agency, it is regulated with a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 56 μg/L. Monitoring for this chemical is important to ensure municipal drinking water remains safe.
Health Effects
Ingesting water containing perchlorate can lead to health concerns, specifically thyroid gland dysfunction. Disruption of thyroid function can impact overall health and regulatory processes in the body. Keeping exposure below the regulated limit helps prevent these thyroid-related issues.
How Perchlorate Gets Into Tap Water
Perchlorate enters drinking water sources through both industrial and agricultural activities. Major sources of this contaminant include rocket fuel manufacturing, fireworks, and fertilizers. These materials can leach into surface or groundwater supplies, leading to tap water contamination.
How to Remove Perchlorate From Your Water
Several water treatment methods can effectively reduce perchlorate levels in drinking water. These include filtration systems using ion exchange and reverse osmosis technologies. Additionally, biological treatment systems can be employed to treat contaminated water supplies.
Should You Test Your Water?
You can check your local water utility's Consumer Confidence Report or use the WaterQ search tool to see if perchlorate is present in your public water supply. Private well owners may also consider testing their water through a certified laboratory if they suspect contamination. You can also look up your local water system on WaterQ or check the Perchlorate data page for reported levels in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perchlorate dangerous in drinking water?
Perchlorate in drinking water can be a concern because it is associated with thyroid gland dysfunction. It is regulated with a Maximum Contaminant Level of 56 μg/L to protect public health from these potential effects. Maintaining exposure below this level helps mitigate risks to thyroid health.
How does Perchlorate get into tap water?
Perchlorate typically enters water supplies from rocket fuel manufacturing, fireworks, and fertilizers. These industrial and agricultural sources can release the compound into groundwater or surface water.
How can I remove Perchlorate from my water?
You can remove perchlorate from your water using treatment methods like ion exchange or reverse osmosis. Biological treatment is another effective option for addressing this contaminant.
Source: EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and WaterQ National Database. For more contaminants, visit our contaminant library.
What actually removes perchlorate
Perchlorate comes from rocket propellant, flares and some fertilisers, and it is one of the contaminants EPA has repeatedly declined to set a national limit for — so whether your utility even tests for it depends on your state. Carbon does not remove it. Anion exchange is the standard treatment and reverse osmosis works at the tap. If you are pregnant and live near a defence or aerospace site, this is worth testing for specifically.
Works
- Anion exchangeWhole-house option for nitrate and uranium on well water.
- Reverse osmosis (NSF 58)The broadest removal available at home: arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, PFAS, TDS.
Will not fix this
- Basic activated carbon (NSF 42)
- Carbon certified for lead (NSF 53)
- Ion-exchange water softener
- UV disinfection (NSF 55)
- Boiling Makes it worse — evaporation concentrates what's left behind.
Test before you buy.Perchlorate can't be seen, tasted or smelled, and the right hardware depends on the concentration you actually have. A certified lab test costs a fraction of the wrong filtration system. Start with your local water quality report, and get a mail-in lab test if you're on a private well.
Options that carry the right certification
Ordered cheapest-adequate first. Prices are indicative bands and move often.
| Product | Certification | Upfront | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEC ROES-50 EssenceUnder-sink | Built with WQA-certified components to NSF/ANSI 58.Catch:Needs an under-sink drain connection and a spare hole for the dedicated faucet. Strips minerals — some people dislike the flat taste. | $180–240 | $50–80 | Check price |
| AquaTru Countertop Reverse OsmosisCountertop | NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58, 401 and P473 certified.Catch:Takes counter space and you refill a tank by hand. Wastes some water as brine, like all RO. | $400–500 | $80–130 | Check price |
Certification listings change. Before buying, confirm the current listing for the exact model in the NSF certified products database — a manufacturer's marketing page is not a certification. WaterQ earns a commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you; see our affiliate disclosure. This is general information, not medical or engineering advice.
For a full breakdown of certifications, running costs and the models worth considering, see our buying guide for perchlorate.