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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perchlorate

San Fernando Water Department

Perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel, occurs both naturally and as a synthetic chemical. Ingested perchlorate interferes with thyroid function. Exposure to perchlorate during pregnancy and childhood can impair cognitive development. Read More.

According to the EPA, perchlorate likely contaminates the water of more than 16 million Americans. Perchlorate interferes with iodine uptake in the thyroid, which can result in reduced thyroid hormones and an impact on metabolism, physical development and cognitive development. Children and developing fetuses are the most at risk from perchlorate contamination.

Perchlorate is the only unregulated contaminant for which the EPA has attempted to set a federal drinking water standard since 1996. However, the agency has yet to propose a draft limit for this contaminant. Perchlorate in drinking water is regulated in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Texas. California set a public health goal of 1 part per billion for perchlorate in 2015.

Click here to read more about perchlorate.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

94

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND60ND
2016ND30ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018ND220ND
2019ND530ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppb for perchlorate 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 hormone disruption.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-229590-004-0845ND
2014-01-229590-003-0955ND
2014-01-229590-002-0910ND
2014-04-099590-004-0855ND
2014-04-099590-003-1050ND
2014-04-099590-002-0940ND
2014-09-269590-002-0730ND
2014-10-089590-004-0910ND
2014-10-089590-003-1020ND
2014-10-089590-002-0945ND
2015-01-149590-002-0915ND
2015-01-149590-003-1015ND
2015-01-149590-004-0850ND
2015-04-089590-002-1000ND
2015-04-089590-003-1130ND
2015-04-089590-004-0845ND
2016-01-209590-002-0745ND
2016-01-209590-003-1000ND
2016-01-209590-004-0715ND
2018-01-319590-002-1000ND
2018-01-319590-003-0850ND
2018-01-319590-004-0930ND
2018-09-179590-014-1206ND
2018-10-299590-014-0944ND
2018-10-309590-014-0840ND
2018-10-319590-014-0926ND
2018-11-019590-014-0745ND
2018-11-029590-014-0815ND
2018-11-039590-014-0945ND
2018-11-049590-014-0915ND
2018-11-069590-014-0835ND
2018-11-089590-014-0840ND
2018-11-139590-014-0840ND
2018-11-159590-014-0900ND
2018-11-209590-014-0830ND
2018-11-219590-014-1030ND
2018-11-279590-014-0830ND
2018-12-059590-014-0941ND
2018-12-129590-014-0940ND
2018-12-199590-014-0915ND
2018-12-269590-014-0850ND
2019-01-029590-014-0900ND
2019-01-169590-014-1030ND
2019-01-239590-014-0925ND
2019-01-309590-014-0920ND
2019-01-309590-002-0830ND
2019-01-309590-004-0905ND
2019-02-069590-014-0925ND
2019-02-159590-014-1018ND
2019-02-209590-014-0810ND
2019-02-279590-014-0850ND
2019-03-069590-014-0940ND
2019-03-139590-014-0930ND
2019-03-209590-014-0830ND
2019-03-279590-014-0910ND
2019-04-039590-014-0900ND
2019-04-109590-014-1015ND
2019-04-189590-014-0940ND
2019-04-249590-014-0850ND
2019-05-029590-014-0955ND
2019-05-089590-014-1000ND
2019-05-159590-014-0940ND
2019-05-229590-014-0940ND
2019-05-299590-014-0930ND
2019-06-059590-014-0940ND
2019-06-129590-014-0850ND
2019-06-199590-014-0935ND
2019-06-269590-014-0805ND
2019-07-039590-014-0930ND
2019-07-109590-014-0945ND
2019-07-189590-014-0905ND
2019-07-249590-014-0825ND
2019-07-309590-014-1030ND
2019-08-079590-014-0900ND
2019-08-149590-014-1123ND
2019-08-219590-014-0935ND
2019-08-289590-014-0835ND
2019-09-049590-014-1205ND
2019-09-129590-014-1100ND
2019-09-189590-014-0800ND
2019-09-259590-014-0956ND
2019-10-029590-014-1045ND
2019-10-099590-014-1056ND
2019-10-169590-014-0900ND
2019-10-239590-014-1030ND
2019-10-239590-014-0850ND
2019-10-319590-014-0955ND
2019-11-069590-014-1045ND
2019-11-139590-014-1005ND
2019-11-269590-014-2250ND
2019-12-029590-014-1120ND
2019-12-069590-014-1010ND
2019-12-189590-014-0845ND
2019-12-269590-014-0920ND