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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Rancho California Water District

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

 

114

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND140ND
2015ND230ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND230ND
2018ND300ND
2019ND130ND

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
2014-03-114790-028-0922ND
2014-03-114790-046-0815ND
2014-04-024790-085-1030ND
2014-04-024790-086-1100ND
2014-04-034790-043-1015ND
2014-04-034790-084-0915ND
2014-05-084790-048-0930ND
2014-05-234790-143-0840ND
2014-06-034790-051-1140ND
2014-08-064790-143-0905ND
2014-08-074790-095-0905ND
2014-09-044790-059-0935ND
2014-10-024790-029-0940ND
2014-11-124790-143-1045ND
2015-01-074790-097-1215ND
2015-01-294790-142-1030ND
2015-02-054790-036-1125ND
2015-02-064790-042-1100ND
2015-04-164790-058-1045ND
2015-04-224790-053-1200ND
2015-04-224790-142-1015ND
2015-05-064790-143-1050ND
2015-05-144790-015-1025ND
2015-06-024790-018-1030ND
2015-07-014790-031-1031ND
2015-07-024790-040-1130ND
2015-07-144790-142-1000ND
2015-07-274790-037-1032ND
2015-08-054790-143-1455ND
2015-08-064790-017-1245ND
2015-08-064790-019-1210ND
2015-08-064790-025-1140ND
2015-08-064790-038-0945ND
2015-08-074790-027-0840ND
2015-08-074790-035-0930ND
2015-10-144790-142-1045ND
2015-10-224790-044-0830ND
2016-01-204790-142-1030ND
2016-02-294790-150-1830ND
2016-04-144790-142-1100ND
2016-04-224790-047-0840ND
2016-04-224790-071-1030ND
2016-07-254790-012-1230ND
2016-07-274790-142-1130ND
2016-08-034790-034-1145ND
2016-08-034790-041-0955ND
2016-10-264790-143-1015ND
2016-11-104790-153-0935ND
2017-01-184790-090-1120ND
2017-02-034790-153-1050ND
2017-03-094790-046-0907ND
2017-03-234790-142-1020ND
2017-04-114790-043-0955ND
2017-04-114790-084-0940ND
2017-04-114790-085-1040ND
2017-04-124790-142-1030ND
2017-04-194790-065-1035ND
2017-04-274790-086-1025ND
2017-05-044790-153-1005ND
2017-06-144790-051-1130ND
2017-06-154790-048-1053ND
2017-07-134790-142-1035ND
2017-08-094790-095-1000ND
2017-08-104790-153-1215ND
2017-09-014790-150-0930ND
2017-09-284790-059-0943ND
2017-10-174790-029-1101ND
2017-10-194790-142-1020ND
2017-11-084790-150-1445ND
2017-11-224790-151-1100ND
2017-12-064790-045-1110ND
2018-01-044790-097-1134ND
2018-01-044790-142-1242ND
2018-01-184790-042-0845ND
2018-02-054790-036-1020ND
2018-02-074790-150-1242ND
2018-02-074790-151-1148ND
2018-04-184790-053-1025ND
2018-04-254790-152-1135ND
2018-05-034790-150-1130ND
2018-05-034790-151-1235ND
2018-05-084790-015-1006ND
2018-05-154790-024-0942ND
2018-06-144790-018-1020ND
2018-07-024790-031-1110ND
2018-07-114790-037-1045ND
2018-07-114790-040-1231ND
2018-07-174790-152-1045ND
2018-08-094790-035-1205ND
2018-08-094790-151-1000ND
2018-08-144790-038-1220ND
2018-08-144790-150-0914ND
2018-08-154790-017-1214ND
2018-08-154790-025-0952ND
2018-08-154790-027-1029ND
2018-10-034790-152-1030ND
2018-10-084790-143-1000ND
2018-10-094790-044-1135ND
2018-10-174790-155-1240ND
2018-11-064790-150-0957ND
2018-11-064790-151-1116ND
2019-01-094790-152-1100ND
2019-01-094790-155-0930ND
2019-02-124790-153-1201ND
2019-02-194790-150-0958ND
2019-02-194790-151-0841ND
2019-04-024790-155-1115ND
2019-04-044790-071-1009ND
2019-04-094790-047-0820ND
2019-06-044790-012-1225ND
2019-07-224790-155-0820ND
2019-08-144790-034-0931ND
2019-08-144790-041-1118ND
2019-10-174790-143-0912ND