Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
North Penn Water Authority
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.0711 ppb | 48 | 5 | ND - 0.800 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.100 ppb | 45 | 6 | ND - 0.934 ppb |
| 2020 | 0.0857 ppb | 49 | 7 | ND - 0.692 ppb |
| 2021 | 0.0787 ppb | 38 | 5 | ND - 0.676 ppb |
| 2022 | 0.0577 ppb | 26 | 2 | ND - 0.800 ppb |
| 2023 | ND | 18 | 0 | ND |
ppb = parts per billion
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-22 | 20180293 | ND |
| 2018-01-22 | 20180294 | ND |
| 2018-01-22 | 20180295 | ND |
| 2018-01-22 | 20180296 | ND |
| 2018-02-05 | 20180455 | ND |
| 2018-02-05 | 20180456 | ND |
| 2018-02-05 | 20180452 | ND |
| 2018-02-05 | 20180453 | ND |
| 2018-02-05 | 20180454 | ND |
| 2018-02-05 | 20180457 | ND |
| 2018-03-20 | 20181073 | ND |
| 2018-03-20 | 20181074 | 0.666 ppb |
| 2018-03-20 | 20181075 | ND |
| 2018-03-20 | 20181076 | ND |
| 2018-04-16 | 20181445 | ND |
| 2018-04-16 | 20181446 | ND |
| 2018-04-16 | 20181448 | ND |
| 2018-04-16 | 20181447 | ND |
| 2018-05-02 | 20181740 | ND |
| 2018-05-02 | 20181741 | 0.636 ppb |
| 2018-05-02 | 20181744 | ND |
| 2018-05-02 | 20181742 | ND |
| 2018-05-02 | 20181743 | 0.668 ppb |
| 2018-06-18 | 20182322 | ND |
| 2018-06-18 | 20182324 | ND |
| 2018-06-18 | 20182325 | ND |
| 2018-06-18 | 20182323 | ND |
| 2018-06-18 | 20182326 | ND |
| 2018-06-18 | 20182327 | ND |
| 2018-07-16 | 20182699 | ND |
| 2018-07-16 | 20182700 | ND |
| 2018-07-16 | 20182701 | ND |
| 2018-08-01 | 20182922 | ND |
| 2018-08-01 | 20182923 | ND |
| 2018-08-01 | 20182920 | ND |
| 2018-08-01 | 20182921 | ND |
| 2018-08-01 | 20182924 | 0.641 ppb |
| 2018-09-05 | 20183429 | ND |
| 2018-09-05 | 20183431 | ND |
| 2018-09-05 | 20183430 | ND |
| 2018-09-05 | 20183432 | ND |
| 2018-10-15 | 20183924 | ND |
| 2018-10-15 | 20183926 | ND |
| 2018-10-15 | 20183925 | ND |
| 2018-12-03 | 8121626-01 | ND |
| 2018-12-03 | 8121626-03 | ND |
| 2018-12-03 | 8121626-02 | ND |
| 2018-12-10 | 8122542-01 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2019-01-21 | 20190220 | ND |
| 2019-02-04 | 20190410 | ND |
| 2019-02-04 | 20190411 | ND |
| 2019-02-04 | 20190409 | ND |
| 2019-02-04 | 20190412 | 0.697 ppb |
| 2019-02-07 | 20190528 | ND |
| 2019-03-04 | 20190828 | ND |
| 2019-03-04 | 20190829 | ND |
| 2019-03-04 | 20190830 | ND |
| 2019-04-17 | 20191516 | ND |
| 2019-04-17 | 20191518 | ND |
| 2019-04-17 | 20191517 | ND |
| 2019-05-02 | 20191674 | ND |
| 2019-05-02 | 20191675 | 0.934 ppb |
| 2019-05-02 | 20191678 | ND |
| 2019-05-02 | 20191676 | ND |
| 2019-05-02 | 20191677 | 0.643 ppb |
| 2019-07-15 | 20192723 | ND |
| 2019-07-15 | 20192724 | ND |
| 2019-07-15 | 20192727 | ND |
| 2019-07-15 | 20192728 | ND |
| 2019-07-15 | 20192725 | ND |
| 2019-07-15 | 20192726 | ND |
| 2019-08-05 | 20192977 | ND |
| 2019-08-05 | 20192978 | ND |
| 2019-08-05 | 20192976 | ND |
| 2019-08-05 | 20192979 | 0.899 ppb |
| 2019-09-04 | 20193493 | ND |
| 2019-09-04 | 20193494 | 0.506 ppb |
| 2019-09-04 | 20193495 | ND |
| 2019-09-04 | 20193496 | ND |
| 2019-10-21 | 20194146 | ND |
| 2019-10-21 | 20194147 | ND |
| 2019-10-21 | 20194148 | ND |
| 2019-11-04 | 20194264 | ND |
| 2019-11-04 | 20194265 | ND |
| 2019-11-04 | 20194267 | ND |
| 2019-11-04 | 20194266 | ND |
| 2019-11-04 | 20194268 | ND |
| 2019-11-04 | 20194269 | 0.828 ppb |
| 2019-12-02 | 20194693 | ND |
| 2019-12-02 | 20194694 | ND |
| 2019-12-02 | 20194696 | ND |
| 2019-12-02 | 20194697 | ND |
| 2019-12-02 | 20194695 | ND |
| 2020-01-20 | 21503066.00 | ND |
| 2020-01-20 | 21503087.00 | ND |
| 2020-01-20 | 21503003.00 | ND |
| 2020-01-20 | 21503024.00 | 0.692 ppb |
| 2020-01-20 | 21503045.00 | ND |
| 2020-02-03 | 21667090.00 | ND |
| 2020-02-03 | 21667111.00 | ND |
| 2020-02-03 | 21667132.00 | 0.584 ppb |
| 2020-03-02 | 21847027.00 | ND |
| 2020-03-02 | 21847048.00 | 0.587 ppb |
| 2020-03-02 | 21847069.00 | ND |
| 2020-03-02 | 21847090.00 | ND |
| 2020-05-05 | 22215280.00 | ND |
| 2020-05-05 | 22215301.00 | 0.623 ppb |
| 2020-05-05 | 22215343.00 | ND |
| 2020-05-05 | 22215364.00 | ND |
| 2020-05-05 | 22215322.00 | ND |
| 2020-06-01 | 22416291.00 | ND |
| 2020-06-01 | 22416312.00 | 0.612 ppb |
| 2020-06-01 | 22416354.00 | ND |
| 2020-06-01 | 22416375.00 | ND |
| 2020-06-01 | 22416333.00 | ND |
| 2020-06-01 | 22416396.00 | ND |
| 2020-07-20 | 22607584.00 | ND |
| 2020-07-20 | 22607605.00 | ND |
| 2020-07-20 | 22607521.00 | ND |
| 2020-07-20 | 22607542.00 | ND |
| 2020-07-20 | 22607563.00 | ND |
| 2020-08-03 | 22608161.00 | ND |
| 2020-08-03 | 22608182.00 | ND |
| 2020-08-03 | 22608203.00 | ND |
| 2020-08-03 | 22608224.00 | 0.567 ppb |
| 2020-09-02 | 22999425.00 | ND |
| 2020-09-02 | 22999446.00 | ND |
| 2020-09-02 | 22999488.00 | ND |
| 2020-09-02 | 22999509.00 | ND |
| 2020-09-02 | 22999467.00 | ND |
| 2020-09-02 | 22999530.00 | ND |
| 2020-10-19 | 23183108.00 | ND |
| 2020-10-19 | 23183129.00 | 0.532 ppb |
| 2020-10-19 | 23183150.00 | ND |
| 2020-11-02 | 23362147.00 | ND |
| 2020-11-02 | 23362168.00 | ND |
| 2020-11-02 | 23362189.00 | ND |
| 2020-11-02 | 23362210.00 | ND |
| 2020-12-02 | 23537609.00 | ND |
| 2020-12-02 | 23537630.00 | ND |
| 2020-12-02 | 23537651.00 | ND |
| 2020-12-02 | 23537672.00 | ND |
| 2021-01-18 | 23712806.00 | ND |
| 2021-01-18 | 23712827.00 | ND |
| 2021-01-18 | 23712785.00 | 0.554 ppb |
| 2021-02-05 | 23888821.00 | ND |
| 2021-02-05 | 23888863.00 | ND |
| 2021-02-05 | 23888842.00 | 0.676 ppb |
| 2021-03-01 | 24060139.00 | ND |
| 2021-03-01 | 24060160.00 | ND |
| 2021-03-01 | 24060181.00 | ND |
| 2021-03-09 | 24060118.00 | ND |
| 2021-04-19 | 24247779.00 | ND |
| 2021-04-19 | 24247800.00 | ND |
| 2021-05-17 | 24438772.00 | ND |
| 2021-05-17 | 24438793.00 | ND |
| 2021-05-17 | 24438814.00 | 0.618 ppb |
| 2021-06-02 | 24638243.00 | ND |
| 2021-06-02 | 24638264.00 | ND |
| 2021-06-02 | 24638285.00 | ND |
| 2021-06-02 | 24638306.00 | ND |
| 2021-07-21 | 24829615.00 | ND |
| 2021-07-21 | 24829636.00 | ND |
| 2021-07-21 | 24829553.00 | ND |
| 2021-07-21 | 24829574.00 | ND |
| 2021-07-21 | 24829594.00 | ND |
| 2021-08-03 | 24829658.00 | ND |
| 2021-08-03 | 24829679.00 | 0.602 ppb |
| 2021-08-03 | 24829700.00 | ND |
| 2021-08-03 | 24829742.00 | ND |
| 2021-08-03 | 24829721.00 | ND |
| 2021-09-08 | 25220392.00 | ND |
| 2021-09-08 | 25220413.00 | ND |
| 2021-09-08 | 25220434.00 | ND |
| 2021-10-18 | 25405359.00 | ND |
| 2021-10-19 | 25405338.00 | 0.541 ppb |
| 2021-10-19 | 25405380.00 | ND |
| 2021-10-19 | 25405401.00 | ND |
| 2021-11-01 | 25588169.00 | ND |
| 2021-12-06 | 25764735.00 | ND |
| 2022-01-17 | 25942755.00 | ND |
| 2022-01-17 | 25942776.00 | ND |
| 2022-01-17 | 25942734.00 | ND |
| 2022-01-17 | 25942797.00 | ND |
| 2022-02-09 | 26117646.00 | ND |
| 2022-02-09 | 26117667.00 | 0.699 ppb |
| 2022-02-09 | 26117688.00 | ND |
| 2022-02-09 | 26117709.00 | ND |
| 2022-03-02 | 26287458.00 | ND |
| 2022-05-04 | 26648510.00 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2022-05-04 | 26648531.00 | ND |
| 2022-05-04 | 26648552.00 | ND |
| 2022-05-16 | 26649196.00 | ND |
| 2022-05-16 | 26649217.00 | ND |
| 2022-05-16 | 26649238.00 | ND |
| 2022-06-06 | 26842871.00 | ND |
| 2022-07-20 | 27037780.00 | ND |
| 2022-08-03 | 27234071.00 | ND |
| 2022-08-03 | 27234092.00 | ND |
| 2022-08-03 | 27234050.00 | ND |
| 2022-08-03 | 27234113.00 | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | 27641630.00 | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | 27641651.00 | ND |
| 2022-10-17 | 27641672.00 | ND |
| 2022-11-02 | 27823020.00 | ND |
| 2022-12-05 | 27998857.00 | ND |
| 2023-01-18 | 28172968.00 | ND |
| 2023-01-18 | 28172989.00 | ND |
| 2023-01-18 | 28172947.00 | ND |
| 2023-01-19 | 28173010.00 | ND |
| 2023-02-02 | 28349552.00 | ND |
| 2023-03-06 | 28521274.00 | ND |
| 2023-03-06 | 28521295.00 | ND |
| 2023-04-12 | 28702339.00 | ND |
| 2023-06-21 | 29108550.00 | ND |
| 2023-07-19 | 29302143.00 | ND |
| 2023-07-19 | 29302164.00 | ND |
| 2023-07-19 | 29302122.00 | ND |
| 2023-08-02 | 29497569.00 | ND |
| 2023-09-13 | 29700131.00 | ND |
| 2023-09-13 | 29700152.00 | ND |
| 2023-10-12 | 29886784.00 | ND |
| 2023-11-01 | 30071603.00 | ND |
| 2023-12-04 | 30245973.00 | ND |