Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Perchlorate

Long Beach Water Department

Perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel, occurs both naturally and as a synthetic chemical. Ingested perchlorate interferes with thyroid function. Exposure to perchlorate during pregnancy and childhood can impair cognitive development. Read More.

According to the EPA, perchlorate likely contaminates the water of more than 16 million Americans. Perchlorate interferes with iodine uptake in the thyroid, which can result in reduced thyroid hormones and an impact on metabolism, physical development and cognitive development. Children and developing fetuses are the most at risk from perchlorate contamination.

Perchlorate is the only unregulated contaminant for which the EPA has attempted to set a federal drinking water standard since 1996. However, the agency has yet to propose a draft limit for this contaminant. Perchlorate in drinking water is regulated in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Texas. California set a public health goal of 1 part per billion for perchlorate in 2015.

Click here to read more about perchlorate.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

83

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND300ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND240ND
2017ND10ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND250ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppb for perchlorate 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 hormone disruption.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-03-289590-059-0957ND
2014-09-049590-040-0906ND
2014-11-179590-042-1507ND
2014-11-189590-038-0753ND
2014-11-209590-020-0919ND
2014-11-209590-014-1136ND
2014-11-209590-023-0905ND
2014-11-209590-013-1145ND
2014-11-209590-025-1118ND
2014-11-209590-012-1154ND
2014-11-209590-026-1123ND
2014-11-209590-003-1052ND
2014-11-209590-028-0928ND
2014-11-209590-030-0912ND
2014-11-209590-033-0926ND
2014-11-209590-035-0950ND
2014-11-209590-039-1003ND
2014-11-209590-040-0938ND
2014-11-209590-041-1213ND
2014-11-209590-043-0900ND
2014-11-209590-057-0940ND
2014-11-209590-058-1135ND
2014-11-209590-059-1147ND
2014-11-209590-002-1044ND
2014-11-209590-061-1120ND
2014-11-209590-062-0850ND
2014-11-219590-063-0854ND
2014-12-109590-060-1124ND
2014-12-119590-001-1413ND
2014-12-159590-027-1356ND
2015-10-299590-060-1300ND
2016-05-059590-040-0836ND
2016-08-039590-038-1243ND
2016-08-039590-035-1157ND
2016-08-039590-033-1059ND
2016-08-039590-030-1006ND
2016-08-039590-012-0821ND
2016-08-039590-002-0927ND
2016-08-039590-043-0847ND
2016-08-039590-001-0853ND
2016-08-049590-057-1209ND
2016-08-049590-063-0852ND
2016-08-049590-062-0937ND
2016-08-049590-061-1053ND
2016-08-049590-059-1016ND
2016-08-049590-023-0955ND
2016-08-049590-025-0923ND
2016-08-049590-020-1102ND
2016-08-049590-027-1026ND
2016-08-049590-028-1130ND
2016-08-049590-014-0848ND
2016-08-049590-041-1259ND
2016-08-049590-042-1211ND
2016-08-049590-013-0826ND
2016-08-049590-058-1128ND
2017-12-129590-026-1015ND
2018-04-059590-039-1143ND
2018-04-059590-003-1217ND
2019-07-189590-041-1011ND
2019-08-069590-014-0816ND
2019-09-119590-040-1156ND
2019-09-119590-039-1041ND
2019-09-119590-035-1114ND
2019-09-119590-033-1221ND
2019-09-119590-030-1246ND
2019-09-129590-001-0843ND
2019-09-129590-013-1008ND
2019-09-129590-002-0906ND
2019-09-129590-020-1206ND
2019-09-129590-003-0930ND
2019-09-129590-012-0841ND
2019-09-129590-023-1109ND
2019-09-129590-025-1000ND
2019-09-129590-026-1031ND
2019-09-129590-027-1137ND
2019-09-129590-028-1228ND
2019-09-129590-063-1049ND
2019-09-129590-042-1231ND
2019-09-129590-062-1129ND
2019-09-129590-043-0917ND
2019-09-129590-058-1320ND
2019-09-129590-059-1353ND
2019-12-119590-061-1208ND