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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Millville Water Department

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

 

95

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND150ND
2015ND160ND
2016ND160ND
2017ND160ND
2018ND160ND
2019ND160ND

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
2014-03-04L4524760-3ND
2014-03-04L4524760-2ND
2014-03-04L4524760-1ND
2014-05-21L4982861-3ND
2014-05-21L4982861-2ND
2014-05-21L4982861-1ND
2014-06-04L3797724-1ND
2014-08-13L5111388-1ND
2014-08-13L5111388-5ND
2014-08-13L5111388-4ND
2014-08-13L5111388-3ND
2014-08-13L5111388-2ND
2014-11-18L5246821-2ND
2014-11-18L5246821-1ND
2014-11-18L5246821-3ND
2015-02-25L5467018-3ND
2015-02-25L5467018-2ND
2015-02-25L5467018-1ND
2015-02-25L5467018-4ND
2015-05-13L5496750-3ND
2015-05-13L5496750-1ND
2015-05-13L5496750-4ND
2015-05-13L5496750-2ND
2015-08-12L5651051-6ND
2015-08-12L5651051-7ND
2015-08-12L5651051-1ND
2015-08-12L5651051-4ND
2015-11-11L5363756-7ND
2015-11-11L5363756-6ND
2015-11-11L5363756-5ND
2015-11-11L5363756-4ND
2016-02-03L5965792-6ND
2016-02-03L5965792-7ND
2016-02-03L5965792-4ND
2016-02-03L5965792-5ND
2016-05-25L6269611-3ND
2016-05-25L6269611-1ND
2016-05-25L6269611-2ND
2016-06-07L6302813-2ND
2016-08-10L6418718-1ND
2016-08-10L6418718-4ND
2016-08-10L6418718-3ND
2016-08-10L6418718-2ND
2016-11-21L3027402-2ND
2016-11-21L3027402-3ND
2016-11-21L3027402-1ND
2016-11-21L3027402-4ND
2017-03-22L6596283-2ND
2017-03-22L6596283-1ND
2017-03-22L6596283-3ND
2017-03-22L6596283-4ND
2017-05-24L6817662-1ND
2017-05-24L6817662-2ND
2017-05-24L6817662-3ND
2017-05-24L6817662-4ND
2017-09-05L6946138-4ND
2017-09-05L6946138-3ND
2017-09-05L6946138-1ND
2017-09-05L6946138-2ND
2017-11-28L6976825-4ND
2017-11-28L6976825-2ND
2017-11-28L6976825-1ND
2017-11-28L6976825-3ND
2018-03-08380309027ND
2018-03-08380309025ND
2018-03-08380309024ND
2018-03-08380309026ND
2018-05-16380516092ND
2018-05-16380516091ND
2018-05-16380516090ND
2018-05-16380516093ND
2018-08-22380822704ND
2018-08-22380822705ND
2018-08-22380822703ND
2018-08-22380822702ND
2018-11-14381114708ND
2018-11-14381114706ND
2018-11-14381114705ND
2018-11-14381114707ND
2019-02-21390221709ND
2019-02-21390221707ND
2019-02-21390221708ND
2019-02-21390221706ND
2019-05-09390509714ND
2019-05-09390509715ND
2019-05-09390509712ND
2019-05-09390509713ND
2019-08-28390828705ND
2019-08-28390828704ND
2019-08-28390828706ND
2019-08-28390828707.1ND
2019-11-21391121774ND
2019-11-21391121773ND
2019-11-21391121775ND
2019-11-21391121772ND