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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Sativa-L.A. County Water District

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

 

54

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

28

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.425 ppb117ND - 1.000 ppb
20150.206 ppb82ND - 0.830 ppb
20160.423 ppb105ND - 1.10 ppb
20170.589 ppb106ND - 1.30 ppb
20180.554 ppb84ND - 1.20 ppb
20190.700 ppb74ND - 1.40 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
2014-01-149588-002-10051.000 ppb
2014-01-149588-005-09550.590 ppb
2014-01-279588-001-1153ND
2014-04-079588-005-11450.620 ppb
2014-04-079588-002-12000.570 ppb
2014-04-249588-005-1050ND
2014-04-249588-002-1110ND
2014-07-079588-005-1133ND
2014-07-079588-002-11500.540 ppb
2014-10-069588-005-13540.550 ppb
2014-10-069588-002-14050.800 ppb
2015-01-059588-002-10100.830 ppb
2015-01-059588-001-0950ND
2015-03-029588-005-1000ND
2015-04-069588-005-0940ND
2015-07-069588-005-1028ND
2015-09-189588-002-0850ND
2015-10-059588-005-1040ND
2015-10-059588-002-10550.820 ppb
2016-01-049588-005-1040ND
2016-01-049588-002-11000.830 ppb
2016-03-229588-001-1110ND
2016-04-049588-005-10100.500 ppb
2016-04-049588-002-11001.10 ppb
2016-07-119588-005-1000ND
2016-07-119588-002-10201.10 ppb
2016-09-309588-001-1200ND
2016-10-039588-005-1050ND
2016-10-039588-002-11050.700 ppb
2017-02-079588-001-1000ND
2017-02-079588-005-1015ND
2017-02-079588-002-10251.000 ppb
2017-04-039588-002-09551.30 ppb
2017-05-019588-005-09550.630 ppb
2017-07-079588-001-0949ND
2017-07-079588-005-1000ND
2017-07-149588-002-10101.10 ppb
2017-10-069588-002-09501.20 ppb
2017-10-069588-005-10050.660 ppb
2018-01-039588-005-1130ND
2018-01-039588-002-11101.20 ppb
2018-04-129588-005-1035ND
2018-04-129588-002-10501.10 ppb
2018-07-119588-005-0945ND
2018-07-319588-002-09400.930 ppb
2018-10-049588-005-1000ND
2018-10-049588-002-09301.20 ppb
2019-01-079588-005-0950ND
2019-02-279588-002-10301.20 ppb
2019-04-019588-005-0858ND
2019-04-019588-002-09501.40 ppb
2019-07-019588-005-0920ND
2019-07-019588-002-09571.10 ppb
2019-10-249588-002-09401.20 ppb