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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Waterworks District 7

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

 

40

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND200ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND200ND

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
2016-12-0535281860010ND
2016-12-0535281860001ND
2016-12-0535281860010ND
2016-12-0535281860009ND
2016-12-0535281860008ND
2016-12-0535281860007ND
2016-12-0535281860006ND
2016-12-0535281860005ND
2016-12-0535281860004ND
2016-12-0535281860003ND
2016-12-0535281860002ND
2016-12-0535281860001ND
2016-12-0535281860002ND
2016-12-0535281860003ND
2016-12-0535281860004ND
2016-12-0535281860005ND
2016-12-0535281860006ND
2016-12-0535281860007ND
2016-12-0535281860008ND
2016-12-0535281860009ND
2019-11-1935514133001ND
2019-11-1935514133010ND
2019-11-1935514133009ND
2019-11-1935514133008ND
2019-11-1935514133007ND
2019-11-1935514133006ND
2019-11-1935514133005ND
2019-11-1935514133004ND
2019-11-1935514133003ND
2019-11-1935514133002ND
2019-11-1935514133001ND
2019-11-1935514133010ND
2019-11-1935514133009ND
2019-11-1935514133008ND
2019-11-1935514133007ND
2019-11-1935514133006ND
2019-11-1935514133005ND
2019-11-1935514133004ND
2019-11-1935514133003ND
2019-11-1935514133002ND