At EWG, our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know.
Table 1. There are hundreds of perchlorate-contaminated drinking water sources in California.
|
County |
Contaminated water sources (1) |
Contaminated water systems (1) |
Maximum perchlorate level detected (ppb) (2) |
Contaminated sources still active (2) |
Average level (ppb) in contaminated active sources |
|
Los Angeles |
127 |
37 |
159 |
107 |
12.1 |
|
Orange |
15 |
7 |
10.7 |
12 |
6.3 |
|
Riverside |
49 |
8 |
65 |
40 |
9.7 |
|
Sacramento |
13 |
3 |
400 |
0 |
- |
|
San Bernardino |
78 |
16 |
820 |
50 |
18.3 |
|
San Diego |
1 |
1 |
4.7 |
1 |
4.5 |
|
Santa Clara (3) |
133 |
4 |
8.5 |
3 |
6.2 |
|
Sonoma |
1 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
4.5 |
|
Tulare |
7 |
3 |
9.1 |
1 |
5.8 |
|
Ventura |
2 |
1 |
20 |
2 |
11.6 |
|
Statewide |
426 |
81 |
820 |
217 |
8.7 |
Source: EWG 2003
References
Sweeney, F. 2003. Contamination may have spread; more San Martin wells to be tested. February 23, 2003. San Jose Mercury News.