2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z77.111Contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z77-Z99›suspected

ICD-10-CM Z77.111
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z77.111 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor and exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified status.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z77.111
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution
Short Description
Contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z77.11
Contact with and (suspected) exposure to environmental pollution

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ77-Z99Persons with potential health hazards related to family and personal history and certain conditions influencing health status
CategorysuspectedOther contact with and exposures hazardous to health (Z77)
This CodeZ77.111Contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z77.111.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z77.111 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bathing water pollution
  • Drinking water pollution
  • Environmental pollution
  • Exposure to polluted bathing water
  • Exposure to polluted drinking water
  • Exposure to polluted water, non-occupational
  • Exposure to water pollution
  • Pollution
  • Water pollution

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Contact(with)
      • pollution
        • water
    • Contact(with)
      • water pollution
    • Exposure(to)
      • pollution
        • water
    • Exposure(to)
      • water pollution

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR FAC025
Other specified status
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Environmental Pollution

    contamination of the air, bodies of water, or land with substances that are harmful to human health and the environment.

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution

    contamination of the air by tobacco smoke.

  • Water Pollution

    contamination of bodies of water (such as lakes; rivers; seas; and groundwater.)

  • Water Pollution, Chemical

    adverse effect upon bodies of water (lakes; rivers; seas; groundwater etc.) caused by chemical water pollutants.

  • Water Pollution, Radioactive

    contamination of water with radioactive materials and/or substances.

Patient EducationClinical

Water Pollution

We all need clean water. People need it to grow crops and to operate factories, and for drinking and recreation. Fish and wildlife depend on it to survive.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert Z77.111 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
V15.89 Hx-health hazards NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Z77.111Overview

Is Z77.111 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z77.111 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z77.111 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z77.111?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, contact with and (suspected) exposure to water pollution converts to ICD-9-CM V15.89 (hx-health hazards NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.