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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Downey 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

 

202

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

50

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.467 ppb3810ND - 3.10 ppb
20150.410 ppb306ND - 2.40 ppb
20160.594 ppb327ND - 3.70 ppb
20170.336 ppb366ND - 3.40 ppb
20180.542 ppb3712ND - 2.70 ppb
20190.524 ppb299ND - 3.00 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
2014-02-132706-010-0749ND
2014-02-132706-011-0838ND
2014-02-132706-016-0820ND
2014-02-132706-019-07272.00 ppb
2014-02-132706-020-07082.80 ppb
2014-02-132706-024-0652ND
2014-05-192706-010-1435ND
2014-05-192706-011-1314ND
2014-05-192706-016-1255ND
2014-05-192706-019-14171.30 ppb
2014-05-192706-020-14591.50 ppb
2014-05-192706-024-13380.550 ppb
2014-10-072706-007-0752ND
2014-10-072706-009-0812ND
2014-10-072706-010-0830ND
2014-10-072706-011-0734ND
2014-10-072706-012-0937ND
2014-10-072706-014-0955ND
2014-10-072706-016-0715ND
2014-10-072706-032-0849ND
2014-10-072706-033-0918ND
2014-10-082706-017-1014ND
2014-10-082706-018-0958ND
2014-10-082706-019-09371.70 ppb
2014-10-082706-020-09181.80 ppb
2014-10-082706-021-0840ND
2014-10-082706-024-0858ND
2014-10-082706-025-0716ND
2014-10-082706-026-0820ND
2014-10-082706-029-0754ND
2014-10-082706-030-0737ND
2014-10-092706-005-1102ND
2014-12-092706-010-0824ND
2014-12-092706-011-09230.580 ppb
2014-12-092706-016-0936ND
2014-12-092706-019-09482.40 ppb
2014-12-092706-020-10203.10 ppb
2014-12-092706-024-1008ND
2015-02-122706-010-0818ND
2015-02-122706-011-0857ND
2015-02-122706-016-0836ND
2015-02-122706-019-12592.30 ppb
2015-02-122706-020-13222.20 ppb
2015-02-132706-024-0824ND
2015-05-052706-011-0304ND
2015-05-052706-016-0237ND
2015-05-052706-019-01362.40 ppb
2015-05-052706-020-01151.40 ppb
2015-05-052706-024-1245ND
2015-08-182706-007-1120ND
2015-08-182706-009-1052ND
2015-08-182706-011-1038ND
2015-08-182706-012-1138ND
2015-08-182706-014-1152ND
2015-08-182706-016-1026ND
2015-08-182706-032-1107ND
2015-08-192706-017-1050ND
2015-08-192706-018-1031ND
2015-08-192706-019-09512.00 ppb
2015-08-192706-020-09352.00 ppb
2015-08-192706-024-0856ND
2015-08-192706-025-0722ND
2015-08-192706-026-0835ND
2015-08-192706-029-0803ND
2015-08-192706-030-0743ND
2015-12-172706-005-0922ND
2015-12-172706-011-0803ND
2015-12-172706-016-0730ND
2016-03-092706-011-0800ND
2016-03-092706-016-0710ND
2016-03-232706-019-09363.00 ppb
2016-03-232706-020-08582.50 ppb
2016-03-232706-024-0827ND
2016-04-072706-033-0803ND
2016-06-072706-011-0808ND
2016-06-072706-016-0748ND
2016-06-072706-019-07223.70 ppb
2016-06-072706-020-09242.50 ppb
2016-06-072706-024-0858ND
2016-08-102706-005-0855ND
2016-08-102706-007-0918ND
2016-08-102706-009-0830ND
2016-08-102706-011-0941ND
2016-08-102706-012-1010ND
2016-08-102706-014-1026ND
2016-08-102706-016-0750ND
2016-08-102706-033-0728ND
2016-08-172706-017-0948ND
2016-08-172706-018-0922ND
2016-08-172706-019-10193.20 ppb
2016-08-172706-020-10461.90 ppb
2016-08-172706-024-0822ND
2016-08-172706-025-0717ND
2016-08-172706-026-0807ND
2016-08-172706-030-0743ND
2016-08-172706-032-0847ND
2016-11-012706-011-0857ND
2016-11-012706-016-0845ND
2016-11-012706-020-09182.20 ppb
2016-11-012706-024-0805ND
2017-01-102706-005-0856ND
2017-01-102706-007-1050ND
2017-01-102706-009-0826ND
2017-01-102706-011-0959ND
2017-01-102706-032-1030ND
2017-01-112706-012-1012ND
2017-01-112706-014-1115ND
2017-01-112706-016-0952ND
2017-01-112706-017-1103ND
2017-01-112706-018-1038ND
2017-01-112706-020-09311.60 ppb
2017-01-112706-024-0903ND
2017-01-112706-025-0725ND
2017-01-112706-026-0832ND
2017-01-112706-030-0802ND
2017-02-282706-010-0740ND
2017-02-282706-021-0835ND
2017-04-132706-011-1035ND
2017-04-132706-016-1020ND
2017-04-132706-020-11001.10 ppb
2017-04-132706-024-0957ND
2017-04-132706-029-0845ND
2017-05-189588-019-14003.40 ppb
2017-06-279588-010-1252ND
2017-07-189588-010-0856ND
2017-07-189588-011-0944ND
2017-07-189588-016-0924ND
2017-07-189588-024-0821ND
2017-11-089588-010-1306ND
2017-11-089588-011-1240ND
2017-11-089588-016-1221ND
2017-11-219588-020-08341.40 ppb
2017-11-219588-024-0940ND
2017-12-129588-020-08512.00 ppb
2017-12-129588-033-1042ND
2017-12-269588-019-09062.60 ppb
2018-02-139588-005-1105ND
2018-02-139588-007-0900ND
2018-02-139588-009-0930ND
2018-02-139588-010-09450.540 ppb
2018-02-139588-011-1200ND
2018-02-139588-014-1255ND
2018-02-139588-016-1132ND
2018-02-139588-032-1020ND
2018-02-139588-033-1220ND
2018-02-149588-017-1136ND
2018-02-149588-020-12061.70 ppb
2018-02-149588-024-1226ND
2018-02-149588-026-1059ND
2018-02-149588-029-1039ND
2018-02-149588-030-1020ND
2018-02-219588-018-0925ND
2018-02-219588-019-10002.70 ppb
2018-02-219588-021-1047ND
2018-03-149588-012-1131ND
2018-03-269588-025-1035ND
2018-05-019588-010-11500.730 ppb
2018-05-019588-019-11592.60 ppb
2018-05-029588-011-1111ND
2018-05-029588-016-1045ND
2018-05-099588-024-0930ND
2018-05-299588-020-12401.50 ppb
2018-08-079588-010-09100.600 ppb
2018-08-079588-011-0910ND
2018-08-079588-016-0910ND
2018-08-089588-019-10132.20 ppb
2018-08-089588-020-09591.20 ppb
2018-08-099588-024-0912ND
2018-10-239588-018-1314ND
2018-11-069588-010-09401.40 ppb
2018-11-069588-012-1045ND
2018-11-069588-019-10152.50 ppb
2018-11-069588-020-09482.40 ppb
2019-01-159588-032-0755ND
2019-01-249588-025-0730ND
2019-01-249588-029-0905ND
2019-01-249588-030-0822ND
2019-01-259588-005-1048ND
2019-01-259588-009-1026ND
2019-01-259588-010-10080.550 ppb
2019-01-259588-020-09381.70 ppb
2019-01-259588-021-0840ND
2019-01-259588-026-0806ND
2019-01-309588-011-1030ND
2019-01-309588-019-08202.40 ppb
2019-01-309588-033-07350.540 ppb
2019-01-319588-014-1000ND
2019-01-319588-016-0930ND
2019-01-319588-017-1015ND
2019-01-319588-024-0820ND
2019-03-069588-033-0926ND
2019-04-099588-033-0810ND
2019-05-089588-010-1000ND
2019-05-089588-019-12453.00 ppb
2019-05-089588-020-10301.30 ppb
2019-07-099588-010-0746ND
2019-07-099588-020-08501.30 ppb
2019-07-099588-033-0916ND
2019-09-309588-033-0830ND
2019-10-089588-010-0935ND
2019-10-089588-019-10102.90 ppb
2019-10-089588-020-09401.50 ppb