Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
California Water Service (CWS) - Salinas
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.155 ppb | 67 | 9 | ND - 1.46 ppb |
2015 | 0.257 ppb | 42 | 7 | ND - 2.90 ppb |
2016 | 0.341 ppb | 30 | 10 | ND - 2.16 ppb |
2017 | 0.218 ppb | 40 | 9 | ND - 1.65 ppb |
2018 | 0.150 ppb | 45 | 8 | ND - 1.20 ppb |
2019 | 0.169 ppb | 35 | 8 | ND - 0.970 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-07 | 5701-019-1451 | ND |
2014-01-28 | 5701-006-1107 | ND |
2014-01-28 | 5701-018-1016 | ND |
2014-01-28 | 5701-020-1434 | ND |
2014-01-28 | 5701-024-1418 | ND |
2014-01-28 | 5701-030-1634 | ND |
2014-01-28 | 5701-039-1001 | ND |
2014-01-29 | 5701-022-1102 | ND |
2014-01-29 | 5701-041-1142 | ND |
2014-01-29 | 5701-046-1326 | ND |
2014-01-29 | 5701-106-1041 | ND |
2014-02-19 | 5701-028-1445 | 0.940 ppb |
2014-02-19 | 5701-103-1345 | ND |
2014-02-19 | 5701-106-1130 | ND |
2014-02-19 | 5701-123-0958 | ND |
2014-02-25 | 5701-019-1127 | ND |
2014-02-26 | 5701-102-1045 | ND |
2014-03-12 | 5701-019-1250 | ND |
2014-03-27 | 5701-008-1054 | 1.43 ppb |
2014-04-16 | 5701-019-1435 | ND |
2014-04-22 | 5701-018-1151 | ND |
2014-04-22 | 5701-022-1127 | ND |
2014-04-22 | 5701-039-1110 | ND |
2014-04-22 | 5701-106-1140 | ND |
2014-04-29 | 5701-006-1507 | ND |
2014-04-29 | 5701-041-1144 | ND |
2014-04-29 | 5701-046-1120 | ND |
2014-05-06 | 5701-019-1325 | ND |
2014-05-16 | 5701-005-1512 | 1.39 ppb |
2014-05-16 | 5701-102-1605 | ND |
2014-05-16 | 5701-103-1541 | ND |
2014-05-19 | 5701-028-1025 | 1.08 ppb |
2014-05-19 | 5701-123-0930 | ND |
2014-06-18 | 5701-019-1215 | ND |
2014-07-09 | 5701-019-0956 | ND |
2014-07-22 | 5701-006-1503 | ND |
2014-07-22 | 5701-018-1345 | ND |
2014-07-22 | 5701-022-1100 | ND |
2014-07-22 | 5701-039-1033 | ND |
2014-07-22 | 5701-041-1135 | ND |
2014-07-22 | 5701-046-1201 | ND |
2014-08-14 | 5810-019-1450 | ND |
2014-08-21 | 5701-102-1145 | ND |
2014-08-21 | 5701-123-1119 | ND |
2014-08-26 | 5701-005-1135 | 1.46 ppb |
2014-08-26 | 5701-028-1333 | 1.000 ppb |
2014-08-26 | 5701-103-1035 | ND |
2014-09-03 | 5701-019-1150 | ND |
2014-09-03 | 9590-030-1105 | ND |
2014-09-17 | 9590-028-1441 | 1.000 ppb |
2014-09-18 | 9590-028-1435 | 0.880 ppb |
2014-09-24 | 5701-014-1516 | ND |
2014-10-14 | 9590-019-1032 | ND |
2014-10-28 | 5701-022-1022 | ND |
2014-10-28 | 5701-041-1104 | ND |
2014-10-29 | 5701-006-1205 | ND |
2014-10-29 | 5701-018-1032 | ND |
2014-10-29 | 5701-046-1642 | ND |
2014-11-04 | 5701-019-0955 | ND |
2014-11-18 | 5701-005-1510 | 1.22 ppb |
2014-11-18 | 5701-043-1405 | ND |
2014-11-18 | 5701-102-1125 | ND |
2014-11-18 | 5701-103-1110 | ND |
2014-11-18 | 5701-104-1330 | ND |
2014-11-19 | 5701-037-1048 | ND |
2014-11-19 | 5701-123-1450 | ND |
2014-12-16 | 5701-019-1110 | ND |
2015-01-12 | 5701-019-1235 | ND |
2015-01-16 | 5701-018-1328 | ND |
2015-01-16 | 5701-022-1335 | ND |
2015-01-16 | 5701-041-1315 | ND |
2015-01-16 | 5701-046-1200 | ND |
2015-01-21 | 5701-006-1430 | ND |
2015-02-03 | 5701-019-1045 | ND |
2015-02-19 | 5701-005-1320 | 1.11 ppb |
2015-02-19 | 5701-015-1050 | ND |
2015-02-19 | 5701-102-1130 | ND |
2015-02-19 | 5701-103-1015 | ND |
2015-02-19 | 5701-123-1205 | ND |
2015-03-17 | 5701-019-1051 | ND |
2015-04-14 | 5701-019-0915 | ND |
2015-04-21 | 5701-008-1342 | 2.90 ppb |
2015-04-27 | 5701-009-1822 | ND |
2015-04-27 | 5701-041-1435 | ND |
2015-04-27 | 5701-046-1515 | ND |
2015-04-28 | 5701-006-1106 | ND |
2015-04-28 | 5701-018-1150 | ND |
2015-05-05 | 9590-019-1205 | ND |
2015-05-19 | 5701-102-1141 | ND |
2015-05-19 | 5701-103-1248 | ND |
2015-05-20 | 5701-005-0850 | 1.16 ppb |
2015-05-20 | 5701-123-0919 | ND |
2015-06-16 | 5701-026-1123 | ND |
2015-07-22 | 5701-005-1537 | 1.12 ppb |
2015-07-22 | 5701-018-1604 | ND |
2015-07-22 | 5701-019-1136 | ND |
2015-07-22 | 5701-022-1507 | ND |
2015-07-23 | 5701-023-1623 | ND |
2015-07-23 | 5701-041-1600 | ND |
2015-08-27 | 5701-027-1601 | ND |
2015-10-21 | 9590-043-1432 | ND |
2015-10-27 | 5701-005-1547 | 1.07 ppb |
2015-10-27 | 5701-018-1115 | ND |
2015-10-27 | 5701-019-1328 | ND |
2015-10-27 | 5701-022-1529 | ND |
2015-10-27 | 5701-041-1619 | ND |
2015-12-07 | 5701-014-1006 | ND |
2015-12-14 | 5701-008-1524 | 2.54 ppb |
2015-12-14 | 5701-028-1135 | 0.910 ppb |
2016-01-26 | 5701-005-1215 | 0.870 ppb |
2016-01-26 | 5701-019-1026 | ND |
2016-01-26 | 5701-022-1130 | ND |
2016-01-26 | 5701-041-1026 | ND |
2016-01-27 | 5701-018-1012 | ND |
2016-02-23 | 5701-028-1115 | 0.910 ppb |
2016-04-26 | 5701-019-1323 | ND |
2016-04-27 | 5701-005-1355 | 0.800 ppb |
2016-04-27 | 5701-018-0930 | ND |
2016-04-27 | 5701-022-1200 | ND |
2016-04-27 | 5701-041-1034 | ND |
2016-05-31 | 5701-017-1249 | ND |
2016-06-30 | 5701-028-1409 | 0.900 ppb |
2016-07-19 | 5701-022-1013 | ND |
2016-07-19 | 5701-041-1100 | ND |
2016-07-27 | 5701-005-1037 | 1.07 ppb |
2016-07-27 | 5701-018-1251 | ND |
2016-07-27 | 5701-019-0954 | ND |
2016-08-30 | 5701-028-1352 | 0.850 ppb |
2016-10-25 | 5701-019-1126 | ND |
2016-10-26 | 5701-005-0949 | 0.950 ppb |
2016-10-26 | 5701-018-1447 | ND |
2016-10-26 | 9590-041-0917 | ND |
2016-10-27 | 9590-022-0917 | ND |
2016-10-27 | 9590-029-0959 | ND |
2016-11-30 | 5701-028-1400 | 0.980 ppb |
2016-12-14 | 5701-005-0911 | 0.730 ppb |
2016-12-14 | 5701-043-1021 | ND |
2016-12-14 | 5701-131-1053 | ND |
2016-12-30 | 5701-008-0923 | 2.16 ppb |
2017-01-24 | 5701-005-1416 | 0.770 ppb |
2017-01-24 | 5701-018-1025 | ND |
2017-01-24 | 5701-019-1128 | ND |
2017-01-24 | 5701-020-1339 | ND |
2017-01-26 | 5701-022-1045 | ND |
2017-01-26 | 5701-024-1005 | ND |
2017-01-26 | 5701-041-1350 | ND |
2017-02-14 | 5701-037-1410 | ND |
2017-02-14 | 5701-104-1100 | ND |
2017-03-02 | 9590-132-1100 | ND |
2017-03-28 | 5810-131-1026 | ND |
2017-04-12 | 5701-005-1507 | 0.740 ppb |
2017-04-12 | 5701-008-1528 | 1.65 ppb |
2017-04-18 | 5701-019-0927 | ND |
2017-04-18 | 5701-022-1428 | ND |
2017-04-19 | 5701-018-1130 | ND |
2017-04-26 | 5701-041-0903 | ND |
2017-06-14 | 5701-131-1037 | ND |
2017-07-20 | 9590-022-1115 | ND |
2017-07-20 | 9590-041-1200 | ND |
2017-07-25 | 5701-005-1102 | 0.760 ppb |
2017-07-25 | 5701-008-1102 | 1.11 ppb |
2017-07-25 | 5701-019-0918 | ND |
2017-07-26 | 5701-018-1010 | ND |
2017-08-17 | 5701-106-1507 | ND |
2017-09-26 | 5701-131-1045 | ND |
2017-10-18 | 5701-018-1048 | ND |
2017-10-18 | 5701-019-0921 | ND |
2017-10-24 | 5701-022-1303 | ND |
2017-10-24 | 5701-030-1515 | ND |
2017-10-24 | 5701-041-1235 | ND |
2017-10-26 | 5701-005-1305 | 0.860 ppb |
2017-10-26 | 5701-008-1325 | 1.000 ppb |
2017-10-26 | 5701-043-1135 | ND |
2017-11-29 | 9590-005-1431 | 0.880 ppb |
2017-11-29 | 9590-008-1409 | 0.960 ppb |
2017-11-29 | 9590-030-1454 | ND |
2017-11-29 | 9590-131-1104 | ND |
2017-12-12 | 5701-131-0956 | ND |
2017-12-14 | 5701-132-1507 | ND |
2018-01-23 | 5701-005-1330 | 0.630 ppb |
2018-01-23 | 5701-018-1127 | ND |
2018-01-24 | 5701-008-0917 | 0.700 ppb |
2018-01-24 | 5701-022-1000 | ND |
2018-01-24 | 5701-041-1445 | ND |
2018-01-29 | 5701-006-1135 | ND |
2018-01-30 | 5701-019-0932 | ND |
2018-02-06 | 5701-103-0932 | ND |
2018-03-20 | 5701-015-1325 | ND |
2018-03-20 | 5701-131-1137 | ND |
2018-03-20 | 5701-132-0953 | ND |
2018-04-18 | 9590-017-1158 | ND |
2018-04-24 | 5810-005-0945 | 0.950 ppb |
2018-04-24 | 5810-008-0925 | 1.20 ppb |
2018-04-24 | 5810-009-1100 | ND |
2018-04-24 | 5810-018-1020 | ND |
2018-04-24 | 5810-019-0929 | ND |
2018-04-24 | 5810-022-0957 | ND |
2018-04-24 | 5810-041-0900 | ND |
2018-04-24 | 5810-102-1120 | ND |
2018-06-20 | 5701-131-1142 | ND |
2018-06-20 | 5701-132-1232 | ND |
2018-07-17 | 5701-005-1016 | 0.770 ppb |
2018-07-17 | 5701-008-1025 | 0.860 ppb |
2018-07-17 | 5701-018-1036 | ND |
2018-07-25 | 5701-022-0914 | ND |
2018-07-25 | 5701-041-1219 | ND |
2018-07-25 | 5701-123-0903 | ND |
2018-07-31 | 5701-019-0933 | ND |
2018-07-31 | 5701-023-1043 | ND |
2018-08-07 | 5701-026-1026 | ND |
2018-08-07 | 5701-027-1009 | ND |
2018-09-24 | 5701-014-1516 | ND |
2018-09-24 | 5701-046-1513 | ND |
2018-09-25 | 5701-131-1350 | ND |
2018-09-25 | 5701-132-1155 | ND |
2018-10-16 | 9590-022-1416 | ND |
2018-10-16 | 9590-043-1400 | ND |
2018-10-17 | 9590-005-1146 | 0.780 ppb |
2018-10-17 | 9590-008-1134 | 0.880 ppb |
2018-10-17 | 9590-041-1118 | ND |
2018-10-30 | 5701-019-0928 | ND |
2018-10-31 | 5701-018-0924 | ND |
2018-12-17 | 5810-131-0846 | ND |
2018-12-17 | 5810-132-1457 | ND |
2019-01-22 | 9590-005-1408 | 0.710 ppb |
2019-01-22 | 9590-008-1344 | 0.800 ppb |
2019-01-22 | 9590-022-1218 | ND |
2019-01-22 | 9590-041-1146 | ND |
2019-01-29 | 9590-018-1354 | ND |
2019-01-29 | 9590-019-1006 | ND |
2019-03-19 | 5701-131-1341 | ND |
2019-03-19 | 5701-132-1047 | ND |
2019-04-11 | 5810-005-1035 | 0.650 ppb |
2019-04-11 | 5810-008-1025 | 0.720 ppb |
2019-04-11 | 5810-022-1105 | ND |
2019-04-11 | 5810-041-1205 | ND |
2019-04-16 | 5701-018-1023 | ND |
2019-04-17 | 5701-019-0930 | ND |
2019-05-21 | 5701-017-1456 | ND |
2019-06-18 | 5701-132-0944 | ND |
2019-06-19 | 5701-131-0923 | ND |
2019-07-22 | 5701-005-0956 | 0.650 ppb |
2019-07-22 | 5701-008-0935 | 0.770 ppb |
2019-07-22 | 5701-022-1046 | ND |
2019-07-22 | 5701-041-1100 | ND |
2019-07-23 | 5701-018-1015 | ND |
2019-07-24 | 5701-019-0925 | ND |
2019-09-17 | 5701-131-1348 | ND |
2019-09-17 | 5701-132-1433 | ND |
2019-10-15 | 5701-005-1339 | 0.660 ppb |
2019-10-15 | 5701-008-1321 | 0.970 ppb |
2019-10-15 | 5701-018-1038 | ND |
2019-10-22 | 5701-022-1336 | ND |
2019-10-22 | 5701-029-1139 | ND |
2019-10-23 | 5701-019-1144 | ND |
2019-10-23 | 5701-041-0931 | ND |
2019-10-23 | 5701-043-1555 | ND |
2019-12-12 | 5701-131-1252 | ND |
2019-12-12 | 5701-132-1317 | ND |