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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Village Water System

Methylene chloride is a common industrial solvent used for paint stripping, vapor degreasing, printing, electronics manufacturing and cleaning. It causes cancer and liver damage in animal studies. Read More.

Surface and groundwater can be contaminated with methylene chloride from industrial releases and landfill leaching. The EPA considers methylene chloride likely carcinogenic to people. Long-term ingestion of drinking water with methylene chloride contamination can cause liver damage and cancer. Occupational exposure to methylene chloride and other solvents has been linked with increased risk of miscarriage. Birth defects have also been observed in studies of laboratory animals exposed to methylene chloride during pregnancy.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

84

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
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND360ND
2017ND120ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND360ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 4 ppb for dichloromethane (methylene 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) 5 ppb

The legal limit for dichloromethane, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2016-04-2035240730008ND
2016-04-2035240730007ND
2016-04-2035240730008ND
2016-04-2035240730006ND
2016-04-2035240730005ND
2016-04-2035240730004ND
2016-04-2035240730003ND
2016-04-2035240730002ND
2016-04-2035240730001ND
2016-04-2035240730001ND
2016-04-2035240730002ND
2016-04-2035240730003ND
2016-04-2035240730004ND
2016-04-2035240730005ND
2016-04-2035240730006ND
2016-04-2035240730007ND
2016-04-2635241518009ND
2016-04-2635241518008ND
2016-04-2635241518010ND
2016-04-2635241518007ND
2016-04-2635241518009ND
2016-04-2635241518008ND
2016-04-2635241518007ND
2016-04-2635241518006ND
2016-04-2635241518005ND
2016-04-2635241518004ND
2016-04-2635241518003ND
2016-04-2635241518002ND
2016-04-2635241518001ND
2016-04-2635241518005ND
2016-04-2635241518004ND
2016-04-2635241518006ND
2016-04-2635241518003ND
2016-04-2635241518002ND
2016-04-2635241518001ND
2016-04-2635241518010ND
2017-05-0135309459017ND
2017-05-0135309459016ND
2017-05-0135309459015ND
2017-05-0135309459014ND
2017-05-0135309459010ND
2017-05-0135309459018ND
2017-05-0135309459018ND
2017-05-0135309459017ND
2017-05-0135309459016ND
2017-05-0135309459015ND
2017-05-0135309459010ND
2017-05-0135309459014ND
2019-02-1135447880007ND
2019-02-1135447880008ND
2019-02-1135447880007ND
2019-02-1135447880006ND
2019-02-1135447880005ND
2019-02-1135447880004ND
2019-02-1135447880003ND
2019-02-1135447880002ND
2019-02-1135447880001ND
2019-02-1135447880001ND
2019-02-1135447880002ND
2019-02-1135447880003ND
2019-02-1135447880004ND
2019-02-1135447880005ND
2019-02-1135447880006ND
2019-02-1135447880008ND
2019-03-2535457558001ND
2019-03-2535457558009ND
2019-03-2535457558002ND
2019-03-2535457558003ND
2019-03-2535457558004ND
2019-03-2535457558005ND
2019-03-2535457558006ND
2019-03-2535457558007ND
2019-03-2535457558008ND
2019-03-2535457558009ND
2019-03-2535457558001ND
2019-03-2535457558002ND
2019-03-2535457558003ND
2019-03-2535457558004ND
2019-03-2535457558005ND
2019-03-2535457558006ND
2019-03-2535457558007ND
2019-03-2535457558008ND
2019-04-0135458991001ND
2019-04-0135458991001ND