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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Cucamonga 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

 

87

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
2014ND280ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND200ND
2018ND290ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-02-273761-038-1255ND
2014-05-293761-033-0940ND
2014-06-053761-027-1045ND
2014-06-193761-054-0940ND
2014-06-193761-053-0925ND
2014-06-193761-052-0930ND
2014-06-193761-051-0000ND
2014-06-193761-050-1035ND
2014-06-263761-008-1015ND
2014-06-263761-029-1052ND
2014-06-263761-034-1042ND
2014-06-263761-035-1007ND
2014-06-263761-010-1103ND
2014-06-263761-038-1022ND
2014-07-103761-025-1042ND
2014-07-103761-037-1007ND
2014-07-103761-042-1015ND
2014-07-103761-004-1022ND
2014-07-103761-003-1052ND
2014-07-103761-002-1103ND
2014-08-053761-055-1150ND
2014-08-143761-001-0917ND
2014-08-143761-022-0842ND
2014-08-183761-033-1050ND
2014-09-043761-027-1010ND
2014-10-163761-039-1050ND
2014-11-203761-033-1145ND
2014-12-093761-027-1040ND
2015-03-053761-027-0855ND
2015-05-133761-055-1050ND
2015-07-093761-017-1100ND
2015-08-203761-055-0925ND
2015-11-233761-055-0900ND
2016-02-113761-055-1040ND
2016-07-213761-017-1120ND
2016-11-233761-035-1440ND
2017-06-023761-027-0918ND
2017-06-143761-039-0959ND
2017-06-143761-035-0930ND
2017-06-143761-038-1026ND
2017-06-153761-008-0931ND
2017-06-153761-034-0910ND
2017-06-153761-033-1047ND
2017-06-193761-042-0859ND
2017-06-193761-053-0908ND
2017-06-223761-003-0806ND
2017-06-223761-052-0913ND
2017-06-223761-025-0818ND
2017-06-223761-053-0902ND
2017-06-263761-002-0929ND
2017-06-263761-054-1041ND
2017-07-033761-055-1041ND
2017-07-123761-017-1408ND
2017-07-133761-010-1305ND
2017-07-133761-029-1319ND
2017-07-173761-004-1231ND
2018-03-143761-023-1149ND
2018-03-143761-016-1008ND
2018-03-283761-024-0931ND
2018-06-209588-008-1044ND
2018-06-209588-038-1138ND
2018-06-209588-027-1105ND
2018-06-209588-034-1200ND
2018-06-209588-029-1228ND
2018-06-219588-003-0848ND
2018-06-219588-025-0832ND
2018-06-219588-037-0914ND
2018-06-219588-050-1244ND
2018-06-219588-051-0815ND
2018-06-259588-035-1127ND
2018-06-259588-004-0941ND
2018-06-269588-054-1035ND
2018-06-269588-052-0925ND
2018-06-269588-053-1000ND
2018-06-279588-033-1020ND
2018-06-279588-055-1140ND
2018-07-039588-010-0917ND
2018-07-119588-042-0950ND
2018-07-119588-002-1000ND
2018-07-129588-017-1214ND
2018-07-189588-022-1010ND
2018-07-189588-001-0950ND
2018-07-269588-023-0912ND
2018-07-269588-016-0846ND
2018-07-269588-024-0904ND
2019-07-019588-017-0945ND
2019-07-249588-017-1115ND