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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

West Valley 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

 

64

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND190ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND50ND
2017ND210ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND110ND

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
2014-06-043761-031-0905ND
2014-06-113761-045-1100ND
2014-06-113761-018-0945ND
2014-06-123761-034-1120ND
2014-06-123761-032-1110ND
2014-06-123761-011-1050ND
2014-06-133761-037-0935ND
2014-06-183761-043-0950ND
2014-06-183761-002-0940ND
2014-06-183761-033-0959ND
2014-06-183761-030-0850ND
2014-06-183761-047-1010ND
2014-06-243761-010-1015ND
2014-06-253761-005-0945ND
2014-06-253761-042-1000ND
2014-06-253761-008-1500ND
2014-06-263761-012-1030ND
2014-06-303761-024-1010ND
2014-08-263761-036-1035ND
2016-07-063761-008-1245ND
2016-07-133761-030-0945ND
2016-08-193761-045-0926ND
2016-10-053761-008-0745ND
2016-10-253761-030-1335ND
2017-01-093761-008-1041ND
2017-01-183761-030-0840ND
2017-04-063761-008-1030ND
2017-04-123761-030-0820ND
2017-07-103761-024-0810ND
2017-07-103761-010-0745ND
2017-07-113761-030-0745ND
2017-07-123761-037-1045ND
2017-07-123761-043-0900ND
2017-07-123761-002-0810ND
2017-07-123761-033-0910ND
2017-07-123761-008-0800ND
2017-07-123761-018-1100ND
2017-07-123761-032-0905ND
2017-07-173761-012-0856ND
2017-07-243761-042-0750ND
2017-07-253761-047-0750ND
2017-07-263761-031-0750ND
2017-07-273761-034-0750ND
2017-10-163761-030-0830ND
2017-10-163761-008-0805ND
2018-01-113761-008-1230ND
2018-01-173761-030-0835ND
2018-04-043761-008-1330ND
2018-04-113761-030-0745ND
2018-07-113761-030-0810ND
2018-07-243761-008-0845ND
2018-10-023761-008-1130ND
2018-10-223761-030-0807ND
2019-01-103761-030-1323ND
2019-01-243761-008-1020ND
2019-04-053761-008-1030ND
2019-04-093761-030-0839ND
2019-06-043761-005-0738ND
2019-07-113761-030-0650ND
2019-07-153761-008-1000ND
2019-07-249588-055-1730ND
2019-08-303761-045-1240ND
2019-10-153761-008-0900ND
2019-10-163761-030-0619ND