Perchlorate
Northbrook Village I / Berlin Ret.
Perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel, occurs both naturally and as a synthetic chemical. Ingested perchlorate interferes with thyroid function. Exposure to perchlorate during pregnancy and childhood can impair cognitive development. Read More.
According to the EPA, perchlorate likely contaminates the water of more than 16 million Americans. Perchlorate interferes with iodine uptake in the thyroid, which can result in reduced thyroid hormones and an impact on metabolism, physical development and cognitive development. Children and developing fetuses are the most at risk from perchlorate contamination.
Perchlorate is the only unregulated contaminant for which the EPA has attempted to set a federal drinking water standard since 1996. However, the agency has yet to propose a draft limit for this contaminant. Perchlorate in drinking water is regulated in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Texas. California set a public health goal of 1 part per billion for perchlorate in 2015.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.170 ppb | 1 | 1 | 0.170 ppb |
| 2019 | 2.45 ppb | 14 | 14 | 0.360 ppb - 4.80 ppb |
| 2020 | 2.40 ppb | 36 | 36 | 0.400 ppb - 5.10 ppb |
| 2021 | 1.35 ppb | 31 | 31 | 0.380 ppb - 2.70 ppb |
| 2022 | 0.253 ppb | 18 | 18 | 0.142 ppb - 0.331 ppb |
| 2023 | 0.0270 ppb | 10 | 2 | ND - 0.140 ppb |
ppb = parts per billion
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
EWG Health Guideline: 1 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppb for perchlorate 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 hormone disruption.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2018-09-10 | 0.170 ppb |
| 2019-08-05 | 2.90 ppb |
| 2019-08-15 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2019-08-29 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2019-08-29 | 4.80 ppb |
| 2019-08-29 | 3.10 ppb |
| 2019-10-23 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2019-10-23 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2019-10-23 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2019-11-21 | 1.70 ppb |
| 2019-11-21 | 4.20 ppb |
| 2019-11-21 | 0.930 ppb |
| 2019-12-10 | 1.70 ppb |
| 2019-12-10 | 3.60 ppb |
| 2019-12-10 | 0.360 ppb |
| 2020-01-06 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2020-01-06 | 4.10 ppb |
| 2020-01-06 | 1.000 ppb |
| 2020-02-24 | 4.90 ppb |
| 2020-02-24 | 2.50 ppb |
| 2020-02-24 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2020-03-03 | 5.10 ppb |
| 2020-03-03 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2020-03-03 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2020-04-21 | 4.40 ppb |
| 2020-04-21 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2020-04-21 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2020-05-26 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2020-05-26 | 4.70 ppb |
| 2020-05-26 | 2.20 ppb |
| 2020-06-22 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2020-06-22 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2020-06-22 | 4.60 ppb |
| 2020-07-13 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2020-07-13 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2020-07-13 | 3.50 ppb |
| 2020-08-10 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2020-08-10 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2020-08-10 | 3.60 ppb |
| 2020-09-30 | 2.50 ppb |
| 2020-09-30 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2020-09-30 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2020-10-27 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2020-10-27 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2020-10-27 | 2.50 ppb |
| 2020-11-10 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2020-11-10 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2020-11-10 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2020-12-08 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2020-12-08 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2020-12-08 | 0.400 ppb |
| 2021-01-12 | 1.70 ppb |
| 2021-01-12 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2021-01-12 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2021-02-02 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2021-02-02 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2021-02-02 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2021-03-02 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2021-03-02 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2021-03-02 | 0.680 ppb |
| 2021-04-06 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2021-04-06 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2021-04-06 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2021-05-11 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2021-05-11 | 2.30 ppb |
| 2021-05-11 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2021-06-23 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2021-06-23 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2021-06-23 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2021-07-19 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2021-07-19 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2021-07-19 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2021-08-17 | 1.000 ppb |
| 2021-08-17 | 1.70 ppb |
| 2021-09-07 | 0.540 ppb |
| 2021-09-07 | 0.650 ppb |
| 2021-10-19 | 0.420 ppb |
| 2021-10-19 | 0.420 ppb |
| 2021-11-08 | 0.380 ppb |
| 2021-11-08 | 0.402 ppb |
| 2021-12-13 | 0.479 ppb |
| 2021-12-13 | 0.383 ppb |
| 2022-01-25 | 0.266 ppb |
| 2022-01-25 | 0.324 ppb |
| 2022-02-08 | 0.299 ppb |
| 2022-02-08 | 0.320 ppb |
| 2022-03-08 | 0.331 ppb |
| 2022-03-08 | 0.258 ppb |
| 2022-04-04 | 0.282 ppb |
| 2022-04-04 | 0.260 ppb |
| 2022-05-03 | 0.233 ppb |
| 2022-05-03 | 0.262 ppb |
| 2022-06-28 | 0.268 ppb |
| 2022-06-28 | 0.256 ppb |
| 2022-07-19 | 0.248 ppb |
| 2022-07-19 | 0.267 ppb |
| 2022-11-15 | 0.210 ppb |
| 2022-11-15 | 0.167 ppb |
| 2022-12-12 | 0.142 ppb |
| 2022-12-12 | 0.164 ppb |
| 2023-01-16 | ND |
| 2023-01-16 | ND |
| 2023-02-01 | ND |
| 2023-02-01 | ND |
| 2023-04-05 | ND |
| 2023-04-05 | ND |
| 2023-08-30 | ND |
| 2023-08-30 | ND |
| 2023-12-18 | 0.130 ppb |
| 2023-12-18 | 0.140 ppb |