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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Town of Gilbert

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

 

77

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND40ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND150ND
2017ND60ND
2018ND200ND
20190.0525 ppb242ND - 0.740 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 Lab ID Result
2014-01-27201401270088VND
2014-01-27201401270065VND
2014-02-11201402110338VND
2014-03-04201403040337VND
2015-01-28201501280363VND
2015-01-28201501260356VND
2015-02-11201502110487VND
2015-02-24201502240351VND
2015-05-13201505130228VND
2015-07-21201507220448VND
2015-10-12201510120090VND
2015-12-02201512020569VND
2016-01-05201601070012VND
2016-01-06201601070018VND
2016-01-12201601120205VND
2016-01-19201601200431VND
2016-01-19201601190344VND
2016-01-19201601190338VND
2016-01-26201601280342VND
2016-01-26201601260332VND
2016-02-08201602080054VND
2016-02-08201602080043VND
2016-02-17201602170379VND
2016-02-17201602170374VND
2016-03-02201603020442VND
2016-03-23201603230456VND
2016-05-31201605310476VND
2017-01-04201701040827VND
2017-01-17201701170328VND
2017-03-22201703220306VND
2017-06-06201706060728VND
2017-07-27201707280115VND
2017-10-04201710040638VND
2018-01-16201801160490VND
2018-01-16201801160479VND
2018-01-16201801160470VND
2018-01-24201801240704VND
2018-01-24201801240735VND
2018-01-24201801240724VND
2018-01-29201801290256VND
2018-01-29201801290250VND
2018-01-29201801290173VND
2018-02-26201802260221VND
2018-02-27201802270462VND
2018-03-203899428ND
2018-03-203898673ND
2018-03-213898697ND
2018-05-17201805170726VND
2018-05-29201805290456VND
2018-06-13201806131034VND
2018-06-13201806131021VND
2018-07-30201807300102VND
2018-11-0520181105018VND
2019-01-09201901090377VND
2019-01-09201901090343V0.520 ppb
2019-01-09201901090351VND
2019-01-09201901090360VND
2019-01-09201901090372VND
2019-01-09201901090382VND
2019-01-09201901090386VND
2019-01-09201901090394VND
2019-01-09201901090398VND
2019-01-15201901150226VND
2019-02-06201902060222VND
2019-02-06201902060225V0.740 ppb
2019-02-06201902060228VND
2019-02-06201902060232VND
2019-03-25201903250206VND
2019-03-25201903250180VND
2019-04-16201904160421VND
2019-04-29201904290299VND
2019-04-29201904290294VND
2019-05-20201905200115VND
2019-07-17201907170335VND
2019-07-23201907230369VND
2019-10-16201910170070VND
2019-12-16201912160222VND