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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Mesa 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

 

89

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
2014ND150ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND180ND
2018ND170ND
2019ND140ND

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
2014-02-244417-008-1025ND
2014-02-244417-006-0810ND
2014-02-244417-007-1045ND
2014-05-054417-012-0900ND
2014-05-054417-010-0945ND
2014-05-054417-008-0830ND
2014-05-054417-007-0915ND
2014-05-054417-014-0930ND
2014-05-054417-006-0750ND
2014-08-044417-008-0825ND
2014-08-044417-007-0930ND
2014-08-044417-006-0805ND
2014-11-034417-008-1005ND
2014-11-034417-007-1020ND
2014-11-244417-006-0740ND
2015-02-094417-007-0830ND
2015-02-094417-008-0745ND
2015-03-244417-006-0830ND
2015-05-114417-012-0930ND
2015-05-114417-010-0820ND
2015-05-114417-008-1010ND
2015-05-114417-007-0850ND
2015-05-114417-006-1030ND
2015-06-084417-014-0925ND
2015-08-104417-006-0835ND
2015-08-104417-014-0950ND
2015-08-104417-010-1010ND
2015-11-024417-006-0750ND
2016-02-014417-006-0940ND
2016-05-094417-012-1015ND
2016-05-094417-006-0950ND
2016-05-094417-010-1100ND
2016-05-094417-008-0930ND
2016-05-094417-007-1035ND
2016-05-114417-014-0820ND
2016-06-164417-006-0940ND
2016-08-084417-006-1020ND
2016-08-084417-014-1130ND
2016-09-204417-006-0915ND
2016-10-034417-006-0710ND
2017-02-094417-014-0745ND
2017-02-214417-040-0850ND
2017-03-154417-010-0815ND
2017-05-084417-008-0810ND
2017-05-084417-040-0930ND
2017-05-084417-010-1015ND
2017-05-084417-012-0850ND
2017-06-204417-006-0810ND
2017-07-124417-006-1100ND
2017-07-124417-006-1235ND
2017-08-104417-006-0800ND
2017-08-104417-006-0815ND
2017-08-244417-040-0835ND
2017-10-024417-040-0810ND
2017-10-124417-007-0810ND
2017-10-304417-006-0740ND
2017-12-214417-007-0810ND
2017-12-214417-007-0820ND
2018-03-074417-006-0925ND
2018-03-074417-007-1035ND
2018-04-174417-006-0810ND
2018-04-174417-007-0930ND
2018-04-174417-006-0820ND
2018-04-174417-012-0910ND
2018-05-234417-014-0750ND
2018-05-314417-010-1430ND
2018-06-054417-006-0820ND
2018-07-094417-006-0820ND
2018-08-084417-008-0840ND
2018-08-084417-040-0815ND
2018-08-084417-007-0940ND
2018-10-224417-006-0815ND
2018-10-224417-007-0905ND
2018-12-174417-006-0725ND
2018-12-174417-007-0740ND
2019-02-114417-006-0825ND
2019-02-114417-007-0925ND
2019-02-264417-012-0950ND
2019-05-134417-040-0840ND
2019-05-204417-006-0820ND
2019-05-204417-007-0925ND
2019-05-204417-008-0850ND
2019-05-204417-010-0955ND
2019-05-294417-014-0810ND
2019-07-094417-006-0950ND
2019-07-294417-007-0930ND
2019-09-054417-014-0810ND
2019-10-244417-006-0845ND
2019-10-294417-007-1025ND