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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Town of Payson

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

 

66

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

8

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.107 ppb61ND - 0.640 ppb
20150.128 ppb61ND - 0.770 ppb
20160.0226 ppb271ND - 0.610 ppb
20170.173 ppb72ND - 0.700 ppb
20180.130 ppb133ND - 0.610 ppb
2019ND70ND

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
2014-02-11550-19477-5ND
2014-10-27550-34133-5ND
2014-10-27550-34133-40.640 ppb
2014-10-27550-34133-3ND
2014-10-27550-34133-2ND
2014-10-27550-34133-1ND
2015-09-29201509300285VND
2015-09-29201509300281VND
2015-09-29201509300282VND
2015-09-29201509300283VND
2015-09-29201509300284V0.770 ppb
2015-09-29201509300286VND
2016-10-24201610250338VND
2016-10-24201610250333VND
2016-10-24201610250334VND
2016-10-24201610250335VND
2016-10-24201610250336VND
2016-10-24201610250337VND
2016-10-24201610250339V0.610 ppb
2016-10-24201610250340VND
2016-10-24201610250341VND
2016-10-25201610260516VND
2016-10-25201610260515VND
2016-10-25201610260514VND
2016-10-25201610260513VND
2016-10-25201610260512VND
2016-10-25201610260511VND
2016-10-25201610260510VND
2016-10-25201610260509VND
2016-10-25201610260508VND
2016-10-26201610270328VND
2016-10-26201610270330VND
2016-10-26201610270329VND
2016-10-26201610270327VND
2016-10-26201610270326VND
2016-10-26201610270325VND
2016-10-26201610270324VND
2016-10-26201610270323VND
2016-10-26201610270322VND
2017-10-24201710250593VND
2017-10-24201710250588VND
2017-10-24201710250589VND
2017-10-24201710250590VND
2017-10-24201710250591V0.510 ppb
2017-10-24201710250592V0.700 ppb
2017-10-24201710250594VND
2018-02-20550-98271-20.530 ppb
2018-02-20550-98271-1ND
2018-05-08550-102632-20.550 ppb
2018-05-08550-102632-1ND
2018-08-21550-108420-7ND
2018-08-21550-108420-6ND
2018-08-21550-108420-5ND
2018-08-21550-108420-4ND
2018-08-21550-108420-3ND
2018-08-21550-108420-2ND
2018-08-21550-108420-1ND
2018-11-19550-113655-20.610 ppb
2018-11-19550-113655-01ND
2019-02-13550-118035-1ND
2019-10-30201910310693VND
2019-10-30201910310698VND
2019-10-30201910310697VND
2019-10-30201910310696VND
2019-10-30201910310695VND
2019-10-30201910310694VND