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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Bridgewater Water Department

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

 

113

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

3

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND50ND
2015ND230ND
2016ND220ND
20170.0238 ppb211ND - 0.500 ppb
20180.0333 ppb211ND - 0.700 ppb
20190.0286 ppb211ND - 0.600 ppb

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 Result
2014-06-11ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-10-14ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-14ND
2015-01-14ND
2015-01-14ND
2015-01-14ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-07-02ND
2015-07-02ND
2015-07-07ND
2015-07-07ND
2015-10-07ND
2015-10-08ND
2016-01-07ND
2016-01-07ND
2016-01-07ND
2016-01-07ND
2016-01-07ND
2016-01-12ND
2016-01-12ND
2016-01-12ND
2016-01-12ND
2016-01-12ND
2016-01-13ND
2016-01-13ND
2016-01-13ND
2016-01-13ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-07-18ND
2016-07-18ND
2016-07-19ND
2016-10-04ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-25ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-01-260.500 ppb
2017-01-26ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-07-10ND
2017-07-10ND
2017-09-28ND
2017-10-13ND
2018-01-12ND
2018-01-12ND
2018-01-12ND
2018-01-12ND
2018-01-24ND
2018-01-24ND
2018-01-24ND
2018-01-24ND
2018-02-09ND
2018-02-090.700 ppb
2018-02-09ND
2018-02-09ND
2018-02-22ND
2018-02-22ND
2018-02-22ND
2018-03-20ND
2018-03-20ND
2018-07-17ND
2018-07-17ND
2018-07-17ND
2018-10-25ND
2019-03-11ND
2019-03-11ND
2019-03-11ND
2019-03-11ND
2019-03-12ND
2019-03-120.600 ppb
2019-03-12ND
2019-03-12ND
2019-03-14ND
2019-03-14ND
2019-03-14ND
2019-03-14ND
2019-03-15ND
2019-03-15ND
2019-03-20ND
2019-03-20ND
2019-03-20ND
2019-09-23ND
2019-09-23ND
2019-09-23ND
2019-12-18ND