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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

North Franklin Water Works

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

 

50

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
2015ND80ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND40ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND280ND

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
2015-12-1435221371005ND
2015-12-1435221371004ND
2015-12-1435221371003ND
2015-12-1435221371002ND
2015-12-1435221371005ND
2015-12-1435221371004ND
2015-12-1435221371003ND
2015-12-1435221371002ND
2016-11-3035280570002ND
2016-11-3035280570001ND
2016-11-3035280570002ND
2016-11-3035280570005ND
2016-11-3035280570004ND
2016-11-3035280570003ND
2016-11-3035280570001ND
2016-11-3035280570005ND
2016-11-3035280570004ND
2016-11-3035280570003ND
2017-02-0735294548011ND
2017-02-0735294548011ND
2017-02-0735294548012ND
2017-02-0735294548012ND
2019-02-2535451014001ND
2019-02-2535451014002ND
2019-02-2535451014003ND
2019-02-2535451014004ND
2019-02-2535451014004ND
2019-02-2535451014003ND
2019-02-2535451014002ND
2019-02-2535451014001ND
2019-05-2035470274002ND
2019-05-2035470274001ND
2019-05-2035470274001ND
2019-05-2035470274002ND
2019-10-1435505635001ND
2019-10-1435505635008ND
2019-10-1435505635007ND
2019-10-1435505635006ND
2019-10-1435505635005ND
2019-10-1435505635004ND
2019-10-1435505635003ND
2019-10-1435505635002ND
2019-10-1435505635001ND
2019-10-1435505635008ND
2019-10-1435505635007ND
2019-10-1435505635006ND
2019-10-1435505635005ND
2019-10-1435505635004ND
2019-10-1435505635003ND
2019-10-1435505635002ND