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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Westbury WD

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

 

365

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

84

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.191 ppb6616ND - 1.10 ppb
20150.202 ppb307ND - 1.55 ppb
20160.207 ppb7014ND - 2.36 ppb
20170.300 ppb7418ND - 2.80 ppb
20180.292 ppb6014ND - 3.10 ppb
20190.338 ppb6515ND - 3.50 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
2014-01-071401144-001-POCS1.000 ppb
2014-01-071401144-002-POCSND
2014-01-131401419-001-POCSND
2014-02-041402046-001-POCS0.600 ppb
2014-02-041402046-008-POCSND
2014-02-041402046-010-POCSND
2014-02-041402046-002-POCSND
2014-02-041402046-009-POCSND
2014-02-041402046-004-POCS0.900 ppb
2014-02-041402046-006-POCSND
2014-02-041402046-003-POCSND
2014-02-041402046-005-POCSND
2014-02-101402370-001-POCSND
2014-03-031403023-001-POCS0.850 ppb
2014-03-031403023-002-POCSND
2014-03-101403536-001-POCSND
2014-04-071404436-002-POCSND
2014-04-071404436-001-POCS0.670 ppb
2014-05-071405463-007-POCSND
2014-05-071405463-003-POCSND
2014-05-071405463-006-POCSND
2014-05-071405463-009-POCSND
2014-05-071405463-002-POCS0.570 ppb
2014-05-071405463-008-POCSND
2014-05-071405463-001-POCS0.540 ppb
2014-05-071405463-005-POCSND
2014-05-071405463-004-POCS0.910 ppb
2014-06-026005-002-POCSND
2014-06-021406005-001-POCSND
2014-06-091406551-001-POCSND
2014-07-071407316-002-POCSND
2014-07-071407316-001-POCS0.800 ppb
2014-07-141407872-001-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-003-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-006-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-004-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-010-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-007-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-005-POCS0.920 ppb
2014-08-051408179-002-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-008-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-001-POCS0.580 ppb
2014-08-051408179-011-POCSND
2014-08-051408179-009-POCSND
2014-08-111408622-001-POCSND
2014-09-021409021-001-POCS0.850 ppb
2014-09-021409021-002-POCSND
2014-09-051409463-001-POCSND
2014-10-061410300-001-POCS0.850 ppb
2014-10-061410300-002-POCSND
2014-10-141410877-001-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-009-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-006-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-008-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-005-POCS1.10 ppb
2014-11-041411136-007-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-001-POCS0.780 ppb
2014-11-04141113-002-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-011-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-004-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-010-POCSND
2014-11-041411136-003-POCSND
2014-11-101411577-001-POCSND
2014-12-011412007-002-POCSND
2014-12-081412524-001-POCSND
2014-12-101412007-001-POCS0.690 ppb
2015-01-051501059-001-POCS0.700 ppb
2015-01-121501524-001-POCSND
2015-02-051502276-001-POCS0.690 ppb
2015-02-051502276-006-POCSND
2015-02-051502276-003-POCSND
2015-02-051502276-002-POCS0.500 ppb
2015-02-051502276-004-POCSND
2015-02-051502276-008-POCSND
2015-02-051502276-007-POCSND
2015-02-051502276-005-POCS1.30 ppb
2015-02-051502276-009-POCSND
2015-02-051502276-010-POCSND
2015-02-091502450-001-POCSND
2015-03-021503010-001-POCSND
2015-03-101503564-001-POCSND
2015-04-061504295-001-POCSND
2015-04-131504854-001-POCSND
2015-05-061505350-005-POCS1.55 ppb
2015-05-061505350-002-POCS0.670 ppb
2015-05-061505350-006-POCSND
2015-05-061505350-008-POCSND
2015-05-061505350-003-POCSND
2015-05-061505350-004-POCSND
2015-05-061505350-009-POCSND
2015-05-061505350-001-POCSND
2015-05-061505350-007-POCSND
2015-05-061505350-010-POCSND
2015-05-121505775-001-POCSND
2015-06-011506010-001-POCS0.660 ppb
2015-06-081506618-001-POCSND
2016-01-041601033-001A-POC0.840 ppb
2016-01-111601546-001-POCND
2016-01-141601033-002A-POCND
2016-02-021602130-007-POCND
2016-02-021602130-008-POCND
2016-02-021602130-006-POCND
2016-02-021602130-004-POC1.80 ppb
2016-02-021602130-001-POC0.720 ppb
2016-02-021602130-002-POCND
2016-02-021602130-005-POCND
2016-02-021602130-009-POCND
2016-02-021602130-003-POCND
2016-02-081602614-001-POCND
2016-03-071603469-002A-POCND
2016-03-071603469-001A-POC0.860 ppb
2016-03-141603A56-001-POCND
2016-04-041604168-002-POCND
2016-04-041604168-001-POC0.570 ppb
2016-04-111604972-001-POCND
2016-05-041605277-010ND
2016-05-041605277-007ND
2016-05-041605277-008ND
2016-05-041605277-006ND
2016-05-041605277-011ND
2016-05-041605277-002ND
2016-05-041605277-0010.790 ppb
2016-05-041605277-0052.12 ppb
2016-05-041605277-003ND
2016-05-041605277-009ND
2016-05-041605277-004ND
2016-05-091605687-001ND
2016-06-061606436-002-POCND
2016-06-061606436-001-POC0.520 ppb
2016-06-061602130-010-POCND
2016-06-131606C14-001ND
2016-07-051607148-001ND
2016-07-051607148-002ND
2016-07-271607N07-001ND
2016-08-031508039-006ND
2016-08-031508039-007ND
2016-08-081608759-009ND
2016-08-081608759-008ND
2016-08-081608759-011ND
2016-08-081608579-010ND
2016-08-081608759-0042.36 ppb
2016-08-081608759-006ND
2016-08-081608759-003ND
2016-08-081608759-005ND
2016-08-081608759-0020.770 ppb
2016-08-081608759-007ND
2016-08-081608759-0010.830 ppb
2016-08-151608D72-001ND
2016-09-061609215-0010.820 ppb
2016-09-061609215-002ND
2016-09-121609778-001ND
2016-10-03701013002-POCND
2016-10-03701013001-POC0.540 ppb
2016-11-07703828006-POCND
2016-11-07703828009-POCND
2016-11-07703828004-POCND
2016-11-07703828003ND
2016-11-07703827001-POCND
2016-11-07703828002ND
2016-11-07703828008-POCND
2016-11-077038280010.930 ppb
2016-11-07703828005-POCND
2016-11-07703828007-POCND
2016-11-14704490001ND
2016-12-05705973002-POCND
2016-12-12706570001-POCND
2017-01-03708091002ND
2017-01-037080910010.980 ppb
2017-01-09708640001-POCND
2017-02-077010693009-POCND
2017-02-077010693006-POCND
2017-02-077010693007-POCND
2017-02-077010693002-POCND
2017-02-077010693008-POCND
2017-02-077010693003-POCND
2017-02-077010693004-POCND
2017-02-077010693001-POC0.800 ppb
2017-02-077010693005-POCND
2017-02-137011145001-POCND
2017-03-067012656002-POC0.770 ppb
2017-03-067012656003-POCND
2017-03-137013268001--POCND
2017-03-137013268001ND
2017-04-037014693002-POCND
2017-04-037014693001-POCND
2017-04-107015355001-POCND
2017-05-017017331004-POCSND
2017-05-017017331005-POCSND
2017-05-017017331007-POCSND
2017-05-017017331002-POCSND
2017-05-0170137331001-POCS0.750 ppb
2017-05-017017331008-POCSND
2017-05-017017331006-POCSND
2017-05-017017331010-POCSND
2017-05-017017331001-POCS0.750 ppb
2017-05-017017331003-POCSND
2017-05-017017331009-POCSND
2017-05-087018007001ND
2017-05-227019227006-POCND
2017-06-057020308001-POC0.630 ppb
2017-06-057020308002-POCND
2017-06-127021023008-POCSND
2017-07-037023023002-POCSND
2017-07-037023023001-POCS0.870 ppb
2017-07-107023533005ND
2017-08-077026345002-POCS0.740 ppb
2017-08-077026345003-POCSND
2017-08-077026345007-POCSND
2017-08-077026345010-POCSND
2017-08-077026345005-POCSND
2017-08-077026345004-POCS2.70 ppb
2017-08-077026345006-POCS2.80 ppb
2017-08-077026345009-POCSND
2017-08-077026345001-POCS0.930 ppb
2017-08-077026345008-POCSND
2017-08-077026344001-POCND
2017-08-157027244001-POCND
2017-09-057028842001-POC1.10 ppb
2017-09-057028842002-POCND
2017-09-117029449001-POCND
2017-10-027031530004-POCND
2017-10-027031530002-POCND
2017-10-027031530001-POC0.670 ppb
2017-10-027031530003-POC2.00 ppb
2017-10-107032356001-POCND
2017-11-077034982004-POC2.20 ppb
2017-11-077034982001-POC0.640 ppb
2017-11-077034982007-POCND
2017-11-077034982006-POCND
2017-11-077034982002-POCND
2017-11-077034982003-POCND
2017-11-077034982005-POCND
2017-11-077034982009-POCND
2017-11-077034982008-POCND
2017-11-137035532001-POCND
2017-11-137035532002-POCND
2017-12-047037037003-POC2.20 ppb
2017-12-047037037001-POC0.660 ppb
2017-12-047037037002-POCND
2017-12-047037037004-POCND
2018-01-027039417001-POCND
2018-01-127040246001-POCND
2018-02-057041994007ND
2018-02-057041994008ND
2018-02-057041994004ND
2018-02-057041994005ND
2018-02-0570419940033.10 ppb
2018-02-057041994009ND
2018-02-057041994006ND
2018-02-057041994001ND
2018-02-057041994002ND
2018-03-057044396002ND
2018-03-057044396001ND
2018-04-027046842002ND
2018-04-027046842001ND
2018-05-0770507250033.00 ppb
2018-05-077050725004ND
2018-05-077050725009ND
2018-05-077050725005ND
2018-05-077050725007ND
2018-05-077050725008ND
2018-05-077050725001ND
2018-05-0770507250020.850 ppb
2018-05-077050725006ND
2018-06-0470535250010.600 ppb
2018-06-047053525002ND
2018-06-077054443001ND
2018-07-027056829002ND
2018-07-0270568290010.870 ppb
2018-07-097057426001-POCND
2018-08-077060609002-POCND
2018-08-077060609005-POCND
2018-08-077060609006-POCND
2018-08-077060609004-POCND
2018-08-077060609001-POC3.10 ppb
2018-08-077060609007-POCND
2018-08-077060609003-POCND
2018-08-137061297001-POC0.620 ppb
2018-09-0470634930010.590 ppb
2018-09-047063493002ND
2018-09-107064151001ND
2018-10-017066330001ND
2018-10-0170663300022ND
2018-10-097067248001ND
2018-11-0670700980060.510 ppb
2018-11-0670700980020.730 ppb
2018-11-067070098005ND
2018-11-0670700980010.950 ppb
2018-11-067070098009ND
2018-11-067070098003ND
2018-11-067070098010ND
2018-11-067070098008ND
2018-11-067070098007ND
2018-11-067070098004ND
2018-11-1370708230020.690 ppb
2018-11-137070823003ND
2018-11-1370708230010.930 ppb
2018-12-0370726190010.950 ppb
2018-12-037072619002ND
2018-12-107073380001ND
2019-01-147076470001ND
2019-01-17707692002ND
2019-01-1770769220010.650 ppb
2019-02-057078410009ND
2019-02-057078410002ND
2019-02-057078410010ND
2019-02-057078410005ND
2019-02-0570784100043.00 ppb
2019-02-057078410007ND
2019-02-057078410003ND
2019-02-057078410008ND
2019-02-057078410006ND
2019-02-0570784100010.680 ppb
2019-03-047081136002ND
2019-03-047081136001ND
2019-03-287083764001ND
2019-04-017083996002ND
2019-04-0170839960010.840 ppb
2019-04-087084909001ND
2019-05-067088250006ND
2019-05-067088250003ND
2019-05-067088250007ND
2019-05-067088250010ND
2019-05-067088250009ND
2019-05-067088250002ND
2019-05-067088250008ND
2019-05-0670882500043.50 ppb
2019-05-067088250005ND
2019-05-0670882500010.810 ppb
2019-06-047091925002ND
2019-06-0470919250010.850 ppb
2019-06-107092862001ND
2019-06-1170960810010.930 ppb
2019-07-027096081002ND
2019-07-087096594001ND
2019-08-1570101469006ND
2019-08-1570101469010ND
2019-08-1570101469003ND
2019-08-1570101469004ND
2019-08-1570101469002ND
2019-08-15701014690010.720 ppb
2019-08-1570101469009ND
2019-08-1570101469007ND
2019-08-15701014690053.40 ppb
2019-08-1570101469011ND
2019-08-1570101469008ND
2019-09-03701034010010.760 ppb
2019-09-0370103401002-POCND
2019-09-0970104129001ND
2019-09-2670106427001ND
2019-10-07701074680010.590 ppb
2019-10-0770107468002ND
2019-10-2270109290001ND
2019-11-0470110542004ND
2019-11-0470110542010ND
2019-11-04701105420010.670 ppb
2019-11-0470110542003ND
2019-11-04701105420021.10 ppb
2019-11-0470110542007ND
2019-11-0470110542006ND
2019-11-0470110542011ND
2019-11-0470110542009ND
2019-11-04701105420053.50 ppb
2019-11-0470110542008ND
2019-11-1270112280001ND