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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Pico Rivera 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

 

80

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

12

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.519 ppb163ND - 3.10 ppb
20150.744 ppb164ND - 3.20 ppb
20160.727 ppb154ND - 3.00 ppb
20170.167 ppb121ND - 2.00 ppb
2018ND100ND
2019ND110ND

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
2014-01-219588-002-1000ND
2014-01-239588-006-0920ND
2014-01-309588-012-10202.30 ppb
2014-04-239588-002-0950ND
2014-04-239588-008-1035ND
2014-04-239588-006-0942ND
2014-04-249588-012-10292.90 ppb
2014-04-249588-007-0939ND
2014-07-309588-006-0934ND
2014-09-169588-005-1119ND
2014-09-169588-004-1105ND
2014-09-169588-002-1002ND
2014-12-179588-006-0948ND
2014-12-179588-002-0954ND
2014-12-189588-012-10503.10 ppb
2014-12-189588-009-1024ND
2015-02-269588-002-1006ND
2015-02-269588-006-0958ND
2015-03-059588-012-09063.00 ppb
2015-04-159588-007-1028ND
2015-04-159588-008-1017ND
2015-04-159588-006-0927ND
2015-04-159588-002-0941ND
2015-04-299588-012-09402.80 ppb
2015-07-279588-006-0932ND
2015-07-279588-002-0949ND
2015-07-279588-004-1145ND
2015-07-279588-005-1120ND
2015-07-289588-012-11093.20 ppb
2015-10-149588-009-0917ND
2015-10-149588-012-10332.90 ppb
2015-10-149588-006-0850ND
2016-03-229588-006-0901ND
2016-03-249588-012-09402.80 ppb
2016-05-099588-006-0908ND
2016-05-099588-008-1000ND
2016-05-099588-007-1015ND
2016-05-099588-012-11152.40 ppb
2016-07-219588-002-0844ND
2016-07-219588-004-1015ND
2016-07-219588-006-0830ND
2016-07-219588-005-0950ND
2016-07-219588-012-11052.70 ppb
2016-11-099588-009-1144ND
2016-11-099588-006-1031ND
2016-11-099588-012-09433.00 ppb
2016-11-099588-002-1048ND
2017-02-099588-012-09452.00 ppb
2017-02-099588-006-1105ND
2017-04-249588-006-0930ND
2017-04-249588-008-1015ND
2017-04-249588-007-1025ND
2017-07-259588-006-0918ND
2017-07-259588-005-1027ND
2017-07-259588-002-0937ND
2017-07-259588-004-1046ND
2017-10-109588-009-1045ND
2017-10-109588-006-1020ND
2017-10-109588-004-1120ND
2018-01-159588-006-0923ND
2018-04-179588-008-1035ND
2018-04-179588-006-0905ND
2018-04-179588-007-1010ND
2018-07-269588-005-1040ND
2018-07-269588-002-0919ND
2018-07-269588-004-1100ND
2018-07-269588-006-0855ND
2018-10-199588-009-1030ND
2018-10-199588-006-0920ND
2019-01-309588-006-0900ND
2019-05-099588-008-0915ND
2019-05-099588-006-0840ND
2019-05-239588-007-0920ND
2019-08-089588-005-1035ND
2019-08-089588-002-0905ND
2019-08-089588-004-1045ND
2019-08-089588-006-1018ND
2019-11-259588-002-0840ND
2019-11-259588-009-1140ND
2019-11-259588-006-1115ND