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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

City of Bakersfield

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

64

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND120ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND140ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-01-065701-111-1420ND
2014-02-105701-111-1240ND
2014-03-035701-111-1032ND
2014-04-025701-111-1240ND
2014-05-085701-111-1440ND
2014-06-165701-111-0914ND
2014-07-085701-111-0847ND
2014-08-055701-111-1004ND
2014-09-045701-111-0939ND
2014-10-065701-111-1007ND
2014-11-045701-111-1010ND
2014-12-085701-111-1156ND
2015-01-075701-111-1142ND
2015-03-255701-111-1319ND
2015-04-075701-111-1222ND
2015-05-129590-111-0923ND
2015-06-045701-111-0833ND
2015-07-015701-111-0807ND
2015-08-055701-111-0941ND
2015-09-015701-111-1115ND
2015-10-065701-111-1137ND
2015-11-035701-111-1141ND
2015-12-025701-111-1055ND
2015-12-219590-111-1045ND
2016-01-045701-111-1210ND
2016-02-085701-111-1040ND
2016-03-025701-111-1406ND
2016-04-065701-111-1012ND
2016-05-045701-111-1032ND
2016-06-095701-111-1025ND
2016-07-205701-111-1244ND
2016-07-255701-127-1345ND
2016-08-015701-111-0907ND
2016-09-065701-111-1030ND
2016-09-295701-126-1030ND
2016-10-035701-111-1310ND
2016-11-145701-111-0955ND
2016-12-055701-111-1330ND
2017-01-065701-111-1023ND
2017-02-079590-111-1335ND
2017-03-065810-111-1405ND
2017-04-035701-111-1053ND
2017-05-015701-111-1148ND
2017-06-055701-111-1133ND
2017-07-105701-111-1235ND
2017-08-075701-111-1135ND
2017-09-065701-111-1255ND
2017-10-025701-111-1430ND
2017-11-025701-111-1210ND
2017-12-045701-111-1255ND
2018-01-045701-111-1045ND
2018-02-065701-111-1111ND
2018-03-065701-111-1128ND
2018-04-025810-111-1206ND
2018-05-305701-111-0923ND
2018-06-115701-111-1045ND
2018-07-105810-111-0914ND
2018-08-085701-111-1229ND
2018-09-115701-111-0950ND
2018-10-045701-111-1036ND
2018-11-065701-111-1006ND
2019-08-175701-127-1125ND
2019-11-195701-126-1335ND
2019-12-175701-111-1153ND