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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perchlorate

Mineola

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.

Click here to read more about perchlorate.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

111

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

46

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20141.35 ppb2215ND - 3.50 ppb
20151.25 ppb1812ND - 2.80 ppb
20160.794 ppb166ND - 2.70 ppb
20170.307 ppb305ND - 2.40 ppb
20180.760 ppb206ND - 4.00 ppb
20191.20 ppb53ND - 2.40 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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 Lab ID Result
2014-01-021401036-001-POCS1.10 ppb
2014-01-091401351-0013.00 ppb
2014-01-101401375-001-POCS2.00 ppb
2014-01-161401762-001-POCSND
2014-02-261402E32-002-PRI3.50 ppb
2014-02-261402E32-001-PRI1.10 ppb
2014-03-051403245-002-PRI1.000 ppb
2014-03-121403821-001ND
2014-04-031404304-0011.10 ppb
2014-04-111404916-001-POCS1.60 ppb
2014-04-171404D79-0013.10 ppb
2014-04-301404M22-001ND
2014-07-101407716-001-POCS3.10 ppb
2014-07-171407C61-001ND
2014-07-231407G30-0011.10 ppb
2014-08-141408A33-001-POCS1.90 ppb
2014-09-301409M87-001ND
2014-10-011410057-001ND
2014-10-091410714-001-POCS1.10 ppb
2014-10-161410B47-003-POCS1.80 ppb
2014-10-221410E60-0013.10 ppb
2014-12-291412I84-002-PRIND
2015-01-061501205-001-PRI1.20 ppb
2015-01-081501422-001-POCS1.70 ppb
2015-01-141756-001-PRI1.70 ppb
2015-01-211501C19-001ND
2015-01-221501D80-001-PRI1.10 ppb
2015-02-031502078-001-PRI1.80 ppb
2015-02-031502078-002-PRIND
2015-04-081504614-001-POCS1.90 ppb
2015-04-081504614-002-POCSND
2015-04-151504B23-001ND
2015-05-071505543-001 PERC2.70 ppb
2015-07-081507516-006-11.60 ppb
2015-07-081507516-003ND
2015-07-161507C24-001-NIT2.80 ppb
2015-10-011510061-0012.70 ppb
2015-10-081510607-001-POCS2.20 ppb
2015-11-041511262-002ND
2015-11-041511262-0011.10 ppb
2016-01-051601174-001-POCS1.70 ppb
2016-01-261601H16-001ND
2016-02-231602G34-004-PRIND
2016-02-231602G34-003-PRI2.50 ppb
2016-02-231602G34-001-PRIND
2016-02-231602G34-002-PRI1.70 ppb
2016-03-011603039-006-POCSND
2016-03-011603039-001-PRIND
2016-04-051604436-001-POCSND
2016-05-031605239-001-POCSND
2016-07-061607330-002-POCS1.80 ppb
2016-07-261607M43-002-POCS2.70 ppb
2016-08-091608969-001-POCS2.30 ppb
2016-09-061609281-005ND
2016-09-061609281-006ND
2016-10-04701134001-POCSND
2017-01-10708747001-POCS2.40 ppb
2017-02-037010547002-POCSND
2017-03-027012480003--PRI1.70 ppb
2017-03-027012480001-PRIND
2017-03-027012480004-PRIND
2017-04-047014893001-POCSND
2017-04-187016174002ND
2017-05-057017914003ND
2017-05-057017914004ND
2017-05-057017914001ND
2017-05-057017914002ND
2017-06-067020532005ND
2017-06-067020532006ND
2017-07-077023427007ND
2017-07-077023427008ND
2017-07-077023427004ND
2017-07-077023427003ND
2017-07-1870244600011.60 ppb
2017-08-157027300002ND
2017-08-157027300003ND
2017-09-057028861004ND
2017-09-057028861003ND
2017-10-0370317860012.20 ppb
2017-10-107032449003ND
2017-10-177033171001ND
2017-10-207033651001ND
2017-11-147035716002ND
2017-11-1470357160003ND
2017-12-057037213009ND
2017-12-0570372130081.30 ppb
2018-01-0270394610011.70 ppb
2018-01-127040297006-PRIND
2018-01-127040297001-PRI1.60 ppb
2018-01-127040297002-PRIND
2018-01-127040297005-PRI2.10 ppb
2018-01-167040575001ND
2018-01-167040575002ND
2018-01-167040575007ND
2018-01-1670405750052.60 ppb
2018-01-167040575006ND
2018-02-067042138002ND
2018-02-067042138003ND
2018-03-097044935004ND
2018-03-097044935005ND
2018-04-0370469790014.00 ppb
2018-05-017050096002ND
2018-05-017050096001ND
2018-05-2970529960013.20 ppb
2018-06-127054673001ND
2018-06-127054673002ND
2019-02-0570784600012.40 ppb
2019-02-057078460003-PRI2.00 ppb
2019-02-207080182001-PRIND
2019-02-207090181001-SECND
2019-04-307087690001-SEC1.60 ppb