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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perchlorate

South Farmingdale WD

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

 

62

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND50ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND130ND
20170.373 ppb111ND - 4.10 ppb
2018ND80ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-05-121405797-001HND
2014-05-151405B82-001HND
2014-05-201405E52-002AND
2014-05-281405J67-001BND
2014-11-051411256-001ND
2015-03-171503B67-001-PRIND
2015-04-071504418-001-PRIND
2015-04-071504418-002-PRIND
2015-05-041505180-001HND
2015-05-041505179-001HND
2015-05-061505344-001HND
2015-05-111505746-003HND
2015-05-111505746-001HND
2015-05-121505872-001HND
2015-05-121505867-001HND
2015-05-141405A68-001A-PRIND
2015-05-141405A68-002A-PRIND
2015-05-181505C84-001HND
2016-04-121604A93-002-PRIND
2016-04-121604A93-001ND
2016-05-031605268-002-PRIND
2016-05-031605262-005ND
2016-05-031605258-003-SECND
2016-05-031605262-002ND
2016-05-041605366-006-PRIND
2016-05-041605366-004ND
2016-05-041605366-002ND
2016-05-101605903-002-SECND
2016-05-101605903-004-PRIND
2016-05-101605903-006-PRIND
2016-05-191605H44-001-PRIND
2017-01-09708657001-PRIND
2017-01-16709166001-PRIND
2017-04-247016748001-PRIND
2017-04-247016749001-PRIND
2017-05-027017493004ND
2017-05-027017493001ND
2017-05-027017493006ND
2017-05-197019063001-PRIND
2017-05-2370192670024.10 ppb
2017-06-057020387002-PRIND
2017-06-057020387001-PRIND
2018-04-107047807002ND
2018-05-017050121001ND
2018-05-087050856001-PRIND
2018-05-087050856002-SECND
2018-05-097051129002ND
2018-05-157051724004-PRIND
2018-05-157051724002-SECND
2018-05-227052407001-SECND
2019-04-047084616002ND
2019-05-087088706006-PRIND
2019-05-087088700002-PRIND
2019-05-087088694002-PRIND
2019-05-087088706002-PRIND
2019-05-087088700004-PRIND
2019-05-137089290004ND
2019-05-137089290002ND
2019-05-137089290008ND
2019-05-147089463004ND
2019-05-147089463002ND
2019-05-207090144001-PRIND