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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

City of Anaheim

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride. Read More.

Exposure to vinyl chloride increases the risk of cancer and can damage the liver and nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.05 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 40 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 2 parts per billion.

Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) are widely used for drinking water distribution lines and internal plumbing, raising concern about vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water. A study published in 2011 by Ryan Walter of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering suggested that small amounts of vinyl chloride can leach from PVC pipes. Vinyl chloride can also form in the pipes as a result of water disinfection with chlorine.

In an assessment completed in 2000, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment stated that drinking water is not a significant source of exposure to vinyl chloride for the general population.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

334

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
2014ND640ND
2015ND520ND
2016ND580ND
2017ND570ND
2018ND520ND
2019ND510ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.05 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride 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) 2 ppb

The legal limit for vinyl chloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to vinyl chloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-214417-034-0810ND
2014-01-214417-035-1105ND
2014-01-214417-036-1045ND
2014-01-214417-037-1055ND
2014-01-214417-049-0850ND
2014-01-214417-050-0920ND
2014-01-214417-051-0950ND
2014-01-214417-062-1010ND
2014-01-224417-058-0750ND
2014-01-224417-063-0835ND
2014-01-224417-086-0815ND
2014-01-224417-087-0920ND
2014-01-224417-088-1035ND
2014-01-224417-090-0900ND
2014-02-204417-086-0935ND
2014-02-204417-086-0950ND
2014-04-014417-035-1205ND
2014-04-014417-036-1150ND
2014-04-014417-037-1125ND
2014-04-014417-049-1050ND
2014-04-014417-050-1025ND
2014-04-014417-051-1000ND
2014-04-014417-062-0945ND
2014-04-034417-053-1100ND
2014-04-034417-058-0905ND
2014-04-034417-063-0840ND
2014-04-034417-086-0930ND
2014-04-034417-087-1035ND
2014-04-034417-090-1010ND
2014-05-094417-063-0840ND
2014-05-094417-063-0855ND
2014-06-184417-033-1100ND
2014-06-184417-034-1035ND
2014-06-184417-088-0940ND
2014-07-014417-034-1015ND
2014-07-014417-035-1130ND
2014-07-014417-036-1145ND
2014-07-014417-037-1200ND
2014-07-014417-049-0940ND
2014-07-014417-050-0830ND
2014-07-014417-051-1055ND
2014-07-014417-062-1035ND
2014-07-024417-033-0925ND
2014-07-024417-058-0805ND
2014-07-024417-063-0820ND
2014-07-024417-086-0845ND
2014-07-024417-087-1040ND
2014-07-024417-088-1110ND
2014-07-024417-090-0955ND
2014-10-014417-033-0820ND
2014-10-014417-034-0855ND
2014-10-014417-035-1130ND
2014-10-014417-036-1145ND
2014-10-014417-037-1200ND
2014-10-014417-049-1030ND
2014-10-014417-050-1055ND
2014-10-014417-051-1000ND
2014-10-014417-062-0930ND
2014-10-024417-058-0835ND
2014-10-024417-063-0815ND
2014-10-024417-086-1020ND
2014-10-024417-087-0940ND
2014-10-024417-088-1105ND
2014-10-024417-090-1000ND
2015-01-064417-033-0935ND
2015-01-064417-034-1015ND
2015-01-064417-036-1230ND
2015-01-064417-037-1240ND
2015-01-064417-049-1330ND
2015-01-064417-050-1405ND
2015-01-074417-058-1040ND
2015-01-074417-063-0910ND
2015-01-074417-086-0955ND
2015-04-094417-034-0920ND
2015-04-094417-035-1015ND
2015-04-094417-036-1030ND
2015-04-094417-088-1000ND
2015-04-134417-033-1010ND
2015-04-134417-049-0905ND
2015-04-134417-050-1215ND
2015-04-134417-051-1110ND
2015-04-134417-058-0745ND
2015-04-134417-062-1145ND
2015-04-134417-063-0920ND
2015-04-134417-086-0840ND
2015-04-134417-087-1055ND
2015-04-274417-053-0835ND
2015-04-274417-090-0905ND
2015-06-104417-086-0855ND
2015-06-104417-086-0910ND
2015-07-074417-033-0745ND
2015-07-074417-034-1140ND
2015-07-074417-036-1105ND
2015-07-074417-049-1010ND
2015-07-074417-050-0945ND
2015-07-074417-058-0845ND
2015-07-074417-063-0905ND
2015-07-074417-086-1025ND
2015-07-144417-096-1120ND
2015-07-304417-049-0730ND
2015-07-304417-049-0740ND
2015-07-304417-058-0800ND
2015-07-304417-058-0810ND
2015-08-134417-037-1105ND
2015-10-014417-036-1025ND
2015-10-014417-037-1035ND
2015-10-054417-033-1100ND
2015-10-054417-034-1045ND
2015-10-054417-049-1145ND
2015-10-054417-050-1125ND
2015-10-054417-096-1230ND
2015-10-134417-058-0820ND
2015-10-134417-063-0850ND
2015-10-134417-086-0905ND
2015-11-234417-049-1015ND
2015-11-234417-049-1030ND
2016-01-044417-033-0945ND
2016-01-044417-034-1010ND
2016-01-044417-036-1150ND
2016-01-044417-037-1200ND
2016-01-044417-049-1105ND
2016-01-044417-050-1050ND
2016-01-054417-058-0810ND
2016-01-054417-063-1100ND
2016-01-054417-086-0955ND
2016-01-114417-096-1010ND
2016-02-104417-088-0910ND
2016-04-054417-096-1120ND
2016-04-054417-096-1135ND
2016-04-114417-033-0855ND
2016-04-114417-034-1010ND
2016-04-114417-035-1135ND
2016-04-114417-036-1120ND
2016-04-114417-037-1105ND
2016-04-114417-049-1230ND
2016-04-114417-050-1200ND
2016-04-114417-062-0945ND
2016-04-184417-051-0935ND
2016-04-184417-053-1000ND
2016-04-184417-058-0825ND
2016-04-184417-086-0855ND
2016-04-184417-087-1035ND
2016-04-184417-088-1230ND
2016-04-184417-090-1055ND
2016-05-174417-049-0955ND
2016-05-174417-087-0930ND
2016-05-184417-086-1030ND
2016-05-234417-086-1115ND
2016-05-264417-086-0805ND
2016-06-144417-051-1100ND
2016-06-144417-051-1110ND
2016-06-144417-063-0850ND
2016-06-144417-063-0900ND
2016-07-074417-033-0830ND
2016-07-074417-049-0950ND
2016-07-074417-058-0740ND
2016-07-074417-063-0800ND
2016-07-074417-086-0910ND
2016-07-114417-034-1120ND
2016-07-114417-037-0955ND
2016-07-114417-096-0905ND
2016-07-254417-088-1005ND
2016-10-104417-033-1005ND
2016-10-104417-049-0900ND
2016-10-104417-058-0940ND
2016-10-104417-063-0920ND
2016-10-104417-086-1025ND
2016-10-114417-034-0810ND
2016-10-114417-036-1045ND
2016-10-114417-037-1030ND
2016-10-114417-088-1115ND
2016-10-114417-096-1055ND
2016-12-074417-088-1020ND
2016-12-074417-088-1035ND
2017-01-034417-033-1045ND
2017-01-034417-034-1000ND
2017-01-034417-036-1200ND
2017-01-034417-058-0920ND
2017-01-034417-063-0820ND
2017-01-034417-088-1220ND
2017-01-034417-096-1135ND
2017-01-304417-037-0940ND
2017-01-304417-049-0845ND
2017-03-294417-086-1315ND
2017-04-044417-033-1000ND
2017-04-044417-034-1030ND
2017-04-044417-049-1120ND
2017-04-044417-063-1150ND
2017-04-044417-086-0930ND
2017-04-054417-037-1050ND
2017-04-054417-062-1240ND
2017-04-054417-088-1145ND
2017-04-054417-096-1135ND
2017-04-104417-058-0930ND
2017-04-104417-090-1050ND
2017-04-114417-035-1050ND
2017-04-114417-036-1015ND
2017-04-114417-051-0840ND
2017-04-114417-087-0920ND
2017-04-134417-063-1150ND
2017-04-134417-063-1205ND
2017-06-264417-053-1020ND
2017-07-054417-033-1115ND
2017-07-054417-034-1050ND
2017-07-054417-049-1235ND
2017-07-054417-058-1155ND
2017-07-054417-086-1140ND
2017-07-104417-036-0905ND
2017-07-104417-037-0920ND
2017-07-104417-053-1120ND
2017-07-104417-063-1200ND
2017-07-104417-088-0940ND
2017-07-104417-096-1015ND
2017-10-094417-033-0925ND
2017-10-094417-036-1020ND
2017-10-094417-037-1035ND
2017-10-094417-058-0855ND
2017-10-094417-088-1230ND
2017-10-094417-096-1140ND
2017-10-174417-049-1045ND
2017-10-174417-063-1005ND
2017-10-174417-086-1235ND
2017-10-234417-049-1120ND
2017-11-214417-058-0930ND
2017-11-214417-058-0935ND
2017-11-214417-088-1005ND
2017-11-214417-088-1015ND
2017-11-284417-063-0920ND
2017-11-284417-063-0925ND
2017-11-284417-086-1025ND
2017-11-284417-086-1030ND
2018-01-024417-035-1015ND
2018-01-024417-036-1035ND
2018-01-024417-037-1050ND
2018-01-024417-088-0935ND
2018-01-024417-096-0955ND
2018-01-094417-033-1045ND
2018-01-094417-058-0930ND
2018-01-094417-063-0845ND
2018-01-104417-049-0805ND
2018-01-114417-086-0820ND
2018-01-224417-033-1030ND
2018-02-264417-033-1250ND
2018-02-264417-033-1305ND
2018-02-264417-049-1115ND
2018-02-264417-049-1130ND
2018-02-264417-051-1015ND
2018-04-024417-033-1305ND
2018-04-024417-035-1050ND
2018-04-024417-037-1105ND
2018-04-024417-049-1145ND
2018-04-024417-062-1215ND
2018-04-024417-088-1020ND
2018-04-024417-096-1035ND
2018-04-034417-051-1045ND
2018-04-034417-053-1115ND
2018-04-034417-058-0910ND
2018-04-034417-063-1310ND
2018-04-034417-086-1200ND
2018-04-034417-087-1020ND
2018-04-034417-090-0945ND
2018-05-034417-058-0745ND
2018-05-034417-058-0800ND
2018-07-104417-050-1030ND
2018-07-234417-033-0900ND
2018-07-234417-049-1005ND
2018-07-234417-058-1030ND
2018-07-234417-063-1055ND
2018-07-234417-086-0930ND
2018-07-254417-037-1105ND
2018-07-254417-051-0935ND
2018-07-254417-088-1020ND
2018-10-014417-033-0940ND
2018-10-014417-049-1030ND
2018-10-014417-058-0920ND
2018-10-014417-063-1140ND
2018-10-014417-086-1110ND
2018-10-024417-050-0945ND
2018-10-084417-037-1205ND
2018-10-084417-088-1125ND
2018-10-254417-049-0925ND
2018-10-254417-049-0935ND
2018-10-254417-051-1035ND
2019-01-034417-049-1025ND
2019-01-034417-058-1105ND
2019-01-034417-063-0950ND
2019-01-034417-086-0905ND
2019-01-034417-090-0810ND
2019-01-084417-033-0950ND
2019-01-084417-051-1025ND
2019-01-104417-035-0910ND
2019-01-104417-037-0930ND
2019-01-104417-088-0840ND
2019-01-104417-096-0855ND
2019-03-194417-110-0910ND
2019-03-284417-050-1445ND
2019-04-094417-033-1025ND
2019-04-094417-049-1130ND
2019-04-094417-058-0930ND
2019-04-094417-063-0955ND
2019-04-094417-086-1155ND
2019-04-094417-087-1230ND
2019-04-104417-035-1015ND
2019-04-104417-037-1040ND
2019-04-104417-050-0900ND
2019-04-104417-051-1120ND
2019-04-104417-053-1230ND
2019-04-104417-062-1150ND
2019-04-104417-088-0940ND
2019-04-104417-110-1310ND
2019-07-104417-037-1030ND
2019-07-104417-088-0950ND
2019-08-064417-049-1030ND
2019-08-064417-050-1000ND
2019-08-064417-058-1130ND
2019-08-064417-063-1150ND
2019-08-064417-110-1215ND
2019-08-074417-051-1030ND
2019-09-054417-033-0920ND
2019-09-054417-086-0955ND
2019-10-084417-033-1045ND
2019-10-084417-049-1155ND
2019-10-084417-050-1120ND
2019-10-084417-058-0930ND
2019-10-084417-063-1225ND
2019-10-084417-086-1010ND
2019-10-084417-110-1320ND
2019-10-094417-037-1150ND
2019-10-094417-051-0905ND
2019-10-094417-088-1105ND
2019-11-074417-049-0920ND
2019-11-074417-049-0925ND
2019-11-074417-051-1000ND
2019-11-074417-051-1005ND