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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Liberty, Town of

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

 

75

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

18

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.617 ppb124ND - 3.10 ppb
20150.315 ppb134ND - 1.70 ppb
20160.338 ppb84ND - 0.800 ppb
20170.0583 ppb121ND - 0.700 ppb
20180.112 ppb173ND - 0.700 ppb
20190.0846 ppb132ND - 0.600 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
2014-02-12778609VND
2014-02-12778606VND
2014-02-12778611V3.10 ppb
2014-04-09782804VND
2014-04-09782805VND
2014-04-09782806V1.70 ppb
2014-08-13792298VND
2014-08-13792300V1.40 ppb
2014-08-13792299VND
2014-10-15797333VND
2014-10-15797334VND
2014-10-15797335V1.20 ppb
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-150.900 ppb
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-01-15ND
2015-06-25ND
2015-06-250.700 ppb
2015-09-14ND
2015-09-141.70 ppb
2015-11-19ND
2015-11-190.800 ppb
2016-01-1413907-070.800 ppb
2016-01-1413907-02ND
2016-04-2017967-01ND
2016-04-2017967-020.500 ppb
2016-07-2822412-01ND
2016-07-2822412-020.700 ppb
2016-10-2526401-020.700 ppb
2016-10-2526401-01ND
2017-01-2329983-12ND
2017-01-2329983-15ND
2017-03-0831781-04ND
2017-04-0533023-02ND
2017-04-0533023-04ND
2017-04-0533023-03ND
2017-07-2037528-05ND
2017-07-2037528-070.700 ppb
2017-08-1038502-07ND
2017-10-1841716-04ND
2017-10-1841716-05ND
2017-10-1841716-01ND
2018-01-1245234-02 ND
2018-01-1245233-02 ND
2018-01-1245232-02 ND
2018-01-2345556-03 ND
2018-01-2345554-03 0.700 ppb
2018-01-2345553-03 ND
2018-01-2345555-03 ND
2018-02-2146929-04 ND
2018-05-2250998-05 ND
2018-05-2250998-07 0.500 ppb
2018-05-2351053-02 ND
2018-07-1153276-01 ND
2018-07-1153276-02 ND
2018-07-1153276-03 ND
2018-11-2959679-01 ND
2018-11-2959679-02 0.700 ppb
2018-11-2959679-03 ND
2019-01-3062284-02 ND
2019-01-3062291-03 ND
2019-01-3062292-03 0.500 ppb
2019-03-2064411-02 ND
2019-05-1566817-02 ND
2019-05-1566817-03 ND
2019-05-1566817-01 ND
2019-08-2070999-01 ND
2019-08-2071000-01 ND
2019-08-2070998-02 ND
2019-10-2473977-06 0.600 ppb
2019-10-2473977-04 ND
2019-10-2473977-02 ND