Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Redhill Water Association

NOTE: Redhill Water Association purchases water from Alma Waterworks which is required to test for tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene). Sample information shown below was taken by Alma Waterworks.

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.

 

10

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND50ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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

NOTE: Redhill Water Association purchases water from Alma Waterworks which is required to test for tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene). Sample information shown below was taken by Alma Waterworks.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-0118004012709ND
2019-02-0519038001501ND
2020-01-0720009017401ND
2020-04-1320107011508ND
2020-07-0820191012409ND
2020-11-0220310000709ND
2021-01-1921021001907ND
2021-04-0621098014201ND
2022-04-04O196531-VOC-1ND
2023-04-10O207795-VOC-1ND