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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Hyannis Water System

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

 

96

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

11

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND100ND
20150.162 ppb193ND - 1.80 ppb
20160.121 ppb183ND - 1.10 ppb
20170.0775 ppb162ND - 0.710 ppb
20180.0467 ppb151ND - 0.700 ppb
20190.104 ppb182ND - 1.30 ppb

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 Result
2014-02-11ND
2014-04-08ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-07-15ND
2014-10-15ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-131.80 ppb
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-130.780 ppb
2015-01-130.500 ppb
2015-01-13ND
2015-01-13ND
2015-04-21ND
2015-07-14ND
2015-07-14ND
2015-07-14ND
2015-07-14ND
2015-07-14ND
2015-07-14ND
2015-07-14ND
2015-07-14ND
2015-11-03ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-141.10 ppb
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-140.570 ppb
2016-01-140.500 ppb
2016-01-14ND
2016-01-14ND
2016-04-13ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-06-29ND
2016-07-19ND
2016-07-19ND
2016-07-19ND
2016-07-19ND
2016-07-19ND
2016-10-11ND
2017-01-19ND
2017-01-19ND
2017-01-19ND
2017-01-19ND
2017-01-19ND
2017-01-19ND
2017-01-190.710 ppb
2017-01-190.530 ppb
2017-01-19ND
2017-04-19ND
2017-04-19ND
2017-07-12ND
2017-07-12ND
2017-07-12ND
2017-07-12ND
2017-10-18ND
2018-01-09ND
2018-01-09ND
2018-01-09ND
2018-01-09ND
2018-01-09ND
2018-01-09ND
2018-01-090.700 ppb
2018-01-09ND
2018-01-09ND
2018-05-03ND
2018-07-17ND
2018-07-17ND
2018-07-17ND
2018-07-17ND
2018-10-23ND
2019-01-09ND
2019-01-09ND
2019-01-09ND
2019-01-091.30 ppb
2019-01-09ND
2019-01-09ND
2019-01-09ND
2019-01-09ND
2019-01-09ND
2019-04-11ND
2019-05-08ND
2019-05-08ND
2019-08-09ND
2019-08-09ND
2019-08-090.580 ppb
2019-08-09ND
2019-10-08ND
2019-10-08ND