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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Waterville Fire District 1

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride. Read More.

Exposure to vinyl chloride increases the risk of cancer and can damage the liver and nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.05 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 40 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 2 parts per billion.

Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) are widely used for drinking water distribution lines and internal plumbing, raising concern about vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water. A study published in 2011 by Ryan Walter of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering suggested that small amounts of vinyl chloride can leach from PVC pipes. Vinyl chloride can also form in the pipes as a result of water disinfection with chlorine.

In an assessment completed in 2000, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment stated that drinking water is not a significant source of exposure to vinyl chloride for the general population.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

55

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND110ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND350ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND10ND
2019N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.05 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride 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) 2 ppb

The legal limit for vinyl chloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to vinyl chloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-05-1314V00186ND
2014-07-0915V00005ND
2014-09-30SB97478-09ND
2014-09-30SB97478-08ND
2014-09-30SB97478-07ND
2014-09-30SB97478-06ND
2014-09-30SB97478-05ND
2014-09-30SB97478-04ND
2014-09-30SB97478-03ND
2014-09-30SB97478-01ND
2014-11-1215V00134ND
2015-03-0515V00177ND
2015-04-2015V00191ND
2015-07-0716V00004ND
2015-10-2916V00063ND
2016-02-2216V00099ND
2016-05-2416V00136ND
2016-06-23SC22991-22ND
2016-06-23SC22991-20ND
2016-06-23SC22991-19ND
2016-06-23SC22991-18ND
2016-06-23SC22991-17ND
2016-06-23SC22991-16ND
2016-06-23SC22991-15ND
2016-06-23SC22991-14ND
2016-06-23SC22991-13ND
2016-06-23SC22991-12ND
2016-09-16SC26197-07ND
2016-09-19SC26197-10ND
2016-09-19SC26197-09ND
2016-09-19SC26197-06ND
2016-09-19SC26197-05ND
2016-09-19SC26197-04ND
2016-09-19SC26197-03ND
2016-09-19SC26197-02ND
2016-09-19SC26197-01ND
2016-10-2817V00052ND
2016-12-15SC29638-10ND
2016-12-15SC29638-01ND
2016-12-15SC29638-02ND
2016-12-15SC29638-04ND
2016-12-15SC29638-05ND
2016-12-15SC29638-06ND
2016-12-15SC29638-07ND
2016-12-15SC29638-08ND
2016-12-15SC29638-09ND
2016-12-15SC29638-11ND
2016-12-15SC29638-12ND
2016-12-15SC29638-13ND
2016-12-2117V00066ND
2017-01-161701-01291-004ND
2017-01-161701-01291-001ND
2017-05-161705-10340-002ND
2017-05-161705-10340-001ND
2018-06-271806-15203-001ND