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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

San Jacinto Special Utility District

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride. Read More.

Exposure to vinyl chloride increases the risk of cancer and can damage the liver and nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.05 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 40 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 2 parts per billion.

Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) are widely used for drinking water distribution lines and internal plumbing, raising concern about vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water. A study published in 2011 by Ryan Walter of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering suggested that small amounts of vinyl chloride can leach from PVC pipes. Vinyl chloride can also form in the pipes as a result of water disinfection with chlorine.

In an assessment completed in 2000, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment stated that drinking water is not a significant source of exposure to vinyl chloride for the general population.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

26

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND10ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND30ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND60ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.05 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 2 ppb

The legal limit for vinyl chloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to vinyl chloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-03-26AC48342ND
2015-09-01AD05208ND
2015-09-01AD05200ND
2015-09-01AD05202ND
2016-03-14AD28468ND
2016-03-14AD28470ND
2016-03-14AD28474ND
2016-06-28AD42185ND
2016-06-28AD42195ND
2016-06-28AD42187ND
2016-09-24AD51200ND
2016-09-24AD51180ND
2016-12-13AD61922ND
2016-12-13AD61938ND
2017-09-14AD96311ND
2017-09-14AD96299ND
2017-09-14AD96309ND
2018-03-12AE17846ND
2018-03-12AE17880ND
2018-03-12AE17838ND
2019-03-13AE58227ND
2019-03-13AE58225ND
2019-03-13AE58223ND
2019-06-06AE69493ND
2019-08-01AE76824ND
2019-12-05AE91443ND