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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

City of Tempe

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

 

84

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

10

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND170ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND30ND
20170.133 ppb245ND - 0.730 ppb
20180.132 ppb214ND - 0.930 ppb
20190.0335 ppb171ND - 0.570 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
2014-01-021401002-01VND
2014-01-281401146-01VND
2014-01-281401144-01VND
2014-01-281401143-01VND
2014-01-281401142-01VND
2014-01-291401148-01VND
2014-01-291401147-01VND
2014-01-291401145-01VND
2014-01-291401141-01VND
2014-03-241403189-01VND
2014-04-281404215-01VND
2014-04-301404216-01VND
2014-07-291407258-01VND
2014-07-301407280-01VND
2014-07-301407276-01VND
2014-11-121411119-01VND
2014-11-121411118-01VND
2015-02-25150222701VND
2015-03-041503035-01VND
2016-01-131601108-01VND
2016-01-261601221-01VND
2016-04-081604073-01VND
2017-01-031701015-01VND
2017-01-031701007-01VND
2017-01-171701113-01VND
2017-01-171701112-01VND
2017-01-181701116-01V0.620 ppb
2017-01-181701115-01VND
2017-01-181701114-01VND
2017-01-191701117-01VND
2017-01-261701120-01VND
2017-01-261701119-01VND
2017-01-311701253-01VND
2017-01-311701252-01V0.570 ppb
2017-03-23201703230333VND
2017-04-037040337-01VOCND
2017-05-047050712-010.700 ppb
2017-05-047050711-01ND
2017-08-281708300-01VND
2017-08-291708311-01VND
2017-08-301708317-01V0.570 ppb
2017-09-071709042-01VND
2017-10-021710019-01VND
2017-10-031710038-01VND
2017-10-111710157-01VND
2017-10-111710156-01V0.730 ppb
2018-01-021801001-001BND
2018-01-031801015-001BND
2018-01-031801014-001BND
2018-01-171801103-01BND
2018-01-171801102-001BND
2018-01-171801101-001BND
2018-01-181801115-001B0.630 ppb
2018-01-181801114-001B0.500 ppb
2018-01-231801143-001BND
2018-01-241801151-001BND
2018-02-051802024-001BND
2018-02-051802023-001BND
2018-02-061802032-001B0.930 ppb
2018-02-131802083-001BND
2018-03-061803023-001BND
2018-04-101804109-001BND
2018-04-111804131-001BND
2018-04-111804123-001B0.710 ppb
2018-07-091807047-001BND
2018-07-311807285-001BND
2018-10-011810011-001BND
2019-01-021901015-001 VOCND
2019-01-021901007-001 VOCND
2019-01-021901005-001 VOCND
2019-01-021901004-001 VOCND
2019-01-031901024-001 VOCND
2019-01-031901021-001 VOCND
2019-01-031901025-001 VOCND
2019-01-031901026-001 VOCND
2019-01-071901045-001 VOCND
2019-01-081901054-001 VOCND
2019-03-131903102-001 VOCND
2019-03-291903192-001 VOCND
2019-03-301903194-001 VOC0.570 ppb
2019-04-021904016-001ND
2019-04-111904119-001ND
2019-07-011907004-001ND
2019-10-011910010-001ND