1,4-Dichlorobenzene in Surfside Florida Water

Unhealthy Levels of 1,4-Dichlorobenzene in the Water Supply of Surfside Florida Homes

1,4-Dichlorobenzene is a synthetic chemical sometimes found in drinking water and is also called p-Dichlorobenzene; homeowners often notice it as a sharp, mothball-like odor before they know the name. In Surfside and the greater Miami-Dade area, families who detect unusual smells or want to protect their household water quality commonly choose to treat water where it enters the home. A whole-house system stops exposure during everyday activities — showering, laundry, and dishwashing — so the smell and any associated contaminants are addressed at every faucet.

This chemical has been used in products such as moth repellents and deodorants and can reach drinking water through industrial handling, disposal, or polluted runoff. It tends to persist instead of breaking down quickly, so even clear-looking water can give off an unwanted odor in hot showers or when several taps run. If you notice a mothball smell in your Surfside home — whether near Surfside Beach or in the neighborhoods around Bal Harbour — a water test will confirm whether 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (p-Dichlorobenzene) is present and point to the right treatment options.