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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Swan Harbour Dell Mobile Home Park

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

 

69

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

40

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20141.29 ppb128ND - 2.80 ppb
20150.838 ppb94ND - 2.30 ppb
20161.75 ppb880.550 ppb - 2.77 ppb
20171.54 ppb64ND - 3.61 ppb
20181.04 ppb1410ND - 2.48 ppb
20190.319 ppb206ND - 1.43 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 Lab ID Result
2014-03-050120215_02_D-14-ND
2014-03-050120215_02_D-14-2.30 ppb
2014-03-050120215_01_D-14-1.30 ppb
2014-03-250120215_01_004172.40 ppb
2014-06-180120215_01_054721.50 ppb
2014-06-180120215_02_D-14-1.80 ppb
2014-06-180120215_02_D-14-ND
2014-09-150120215_01_00096ND
2014-10-290120215_01_001622.30 ppb
2014-11-140120215_02_D-14-2.80 ppb
2014-11-140120215_02_D-14-ND
2014-11-140120215_01_D-14-1.10 ppb
2015-03-110120215_01_002822.30 ppb
2015-03-170120215_01_D-15-ND
2015-03-170120215_02_D-15-ND
2015-03-170120215_02_D-15-ND
2015-06-04D-15-820ND
2015-06-04D-15-822ND
2015-06-04D-15-8211.86 ppb
2015-09-30E160014160011.93 ppb
2015-11-24E160022410041.45 ppb
2016-03-29E160035930011.98 ppb
2016-03-29E160035930041.54 ppb
2016-06-21E160048510012.12 ppb
2016-06-21E160048510042.77 ppb
2016-09-30E170014560012.11 ppb
2016-09-30E170014560031.55 ppb
2016-12-13E170024840040.550 ppb
2016-12-13E170024840011.34 ppb
2017-03-28E170037850012.66 ppb
2017-05-23D-17-964ND
2017-05-23D-17-965ND
2017-06-29E170052570013.61 ppb
2017-09-26E180012730011.21 ppb
2017-10-30E180017380011.73 ppb
2018-03-27E180034870061.46 ppb
2018-03-27E180034890011.59 ppb
2018-06-14E180045100060.970 ppb
2018-06-14E180045100041.33 ppb
2018-09-13E190009400081.69 ppb
2018-09-19D-18-21072.48 ppb
2018-09-19D-18-2106ND
2018-09-19D-18-21080.534 ppb
2018-09-27E190011180081.37 ppb
2018-11-05E19001555008ND
2018-11-05E190015550101.28 ppb
2018-12-12D-18-3020ND
2018-12-12D-18-30211.80 ppb
2018-12-12D-18-3022ND
2019-03-12D-19-497ABCND
2019-03-12D-19-495ABCND
2019-03-12D-19-493ABC1.10 ppb
2019-03-26E19003145001ND
2019-03-26E190031450040.510 ppb
2019-06-05D-19-1248ABCND
2019-06-05D-19-1247ABCND
2019-06-05D-19-1246ABCND
2019-06-26E19004491002ND
2019-06-26E190044930020.570 ppb
2019-08-13D-19-1905ND
2019-08-13D-19-1906ND
2019-08-13D-19-19071.40 ppb
2019-09-05E20000962008ND
2019-09-05E200009620101.36 ppb
2019-11-13E20001879004ND
2019-11-13E200018790061.43 ppb
2019-11-14D-19-2748ND
2019-11-14D-19-2747ND
2019-11-14D-19-2746ND