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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

San Jacinto Special Utility District

Dry cleaning chemical tetrachloroethylene, or perc, can cause cancer. It pollutes soil and groundwater due to emissions from dry cleaning facilities, and automotive, metalworking and other industries. Read More.

The EPA considers tetrachloroethylene a likely human carcinogen. It has been linked with increased incidence of lung, breast and colon cancers. Tetrachloroethylene also damages the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.06 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 80 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion.

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 0.06 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for tetrachloroethylene 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) 5 ppb

The legal limit for tetrachloroethylene, established in 1991, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to tetrachloroethylene 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