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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perchlorate

City of Sacramento Main

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

 

67

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND270ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND230ND
2018ND60ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-02-052706-042-1140ND
2014-02-062706-023-1330ND
2014-02-192706-022-1045ND
2014-02-212706-055-1200ND
2014-02-262706-029-1020ND
2014-03-202706-052-1015ND
2014-03-252706-050-1030ND
2014-04-112706-015-0930ND
2014-04-172706-038-1310ND
2014-08-072706-002-0930ND
2014-08-072706-008-1050ND
2014-09-082706-018-1155ND
2014-09-082706-027-1000ND
2014-09-082706-030-1135ND
2014-09-082706-032-0910ND
2014-09-082706-037-1030ND
2014-09-082706-038-1105ND
2014-09-082706-045-0940ND
2014-09-082706-056-1050ND
2014-09-222706-040-1030ND
2014-09-222706-041-1100ND
2014-09-222706-009-1230ND
2014-09-222706-028-0955ND
2014-09-222706-052-0925ND
2014-09-222706-055-1130ND
2014-12-022706-017-1050ND
2014-12-032706-054-1045ND
2015-01-202706-016-0955ND
2015-08-115810-002-1230ND
2015-08-115810-008-1115ND
2016-02-025810-034-1109ND
2016-04-199054-051-1050ND
2016-05-319054-035-1048ND
2016-06-139054-010-1041ND
2016-08-029054-002-1005ND
2016-08-029054-008-1130ND
2017-03-079054-042-1010ND
2017-03-079054-023-1130ND
2017-03-209054-022-1108ND
2017-03-209054-029-1230ND
2017-04-039054-015-1008ND
2017-05-089054-018-1113ND
2017-05-089054-027-1252ND
2017-05-089054-038-1206ND
2017-05-089054-037-1147ND
2017-05-089054-028-1238ND
2017-05-089054-030-1044ND
2017-05-099054-052-1526ND
2017-05-099054-009-1220ND
2017-05-099054-040-1505ND
2017-05-099054-041-1408ND
2017-05-099054-045-1448ND
2017-05-099054-056-1340ND
2017-05-099054-055-1305ND
2017-08-029054-002-1018ND
2017-08-029054-008-1000ND
2017-08-249054-017-1105ND
2017-08-249054-032-0912ND
2017-08-249054-054-1300ND
2018-02-279054-010-1100ND
2018-02-279054-051-1326ND
2018-02-279054-035-1259ND
2018-02-279054-034-1228ND
2018-08-079054-008-1220ND
2018-08-079054-002-0950ND
2019-08-069054-008-1210ND
2019-08-069054-002-0940ND