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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Madison Water Utility

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

 

215

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

137

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.752 ppb4323ND - 3.50 ppb
20150.879 ppb4025ND - 3.80 ppb
20160.962 ppb2518ND - 2.10 ppb
20170.754 ppb4726ND - 3.70 ppb
20180.772 ppb3423ND - 3.30 ppb
20191.02 ppb2622ND - 3.40 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
2014-01-21767449ND
2014-01-21767452ND
2014-01-217674380.330 ppb
2014-01-217674481.20 ppb
2014-01-22767446ND
2014-01-227674450.500 ppb
2014-01-227674430.520 ppb
2014-01-227674470.790 ppb
2014-02-14770975ND
2014-02-17770977ND
2014-02-18770972ND
2014-02-18770974ND
2014-02-187709731.70 ppb
2014-04-037782961.70 ppb
2014-04-04778295ND
2014-04-077782970.740 ppb
2014-04-077782983.50 ppb
2014-04-227820912.00 ppb
2014-04-23782084ND
2014-04-23782088ND
2014-04-23782087ND
2014-04-23782085ND
2014-04-237820890.260 ppb
2014-05-05784131ND
2014-05-05784135ND
2014-07-14803097ND
2014-07-148030960.560 ppb
2014-07-148030990.590 ppb
2014-07-148031001.70 ppb
2014-07-148030982.00 ppb
2014-07-15803105ND
2014-07-15803102ND
2014-07-158031011.000 ppb
2014-07-158031031.40 ppb
2014-08-04808192ND
2014-08-04808191ND
2014-08-048081903.20 ppb
2014-10-14825835ND
2014-10-148258371.40 ppb
2014-10-148258341.70 ppb
2014-10-148258363.30 ppb
2014-10-158258390.950 ppb
2014-10-158258401.30 ppb
2015-01-208399670.230 ppb
2015-01-208399681.40 ppb
2015-01-208399721.50 ppb
2015-02-23844761ND
2015-02-23844745ND
2015-02-23844740ND
2015-02-23844743ND
2015-02-23844744ND
2015-02-23844742ND
2015-02-238447410.630 ppb
2015-02-238447630.680 ppb
2015-02-238447641.80 ppb
2015-02-238447603.80 ppb
2015-03-10847889ND
2015-04-21855403ND
2015-04-21855402ND
2015-04-218554101.40 ppb
2015-04-218554081.40 ppb
2015-04-218554061.40 ppb
2015-04-218554071.50 ppb
2015-04-218554043.60 ppb
2015-05-058581970.490 ppb
2015-05-058581980.740 ppb
2015-07-21872301ND
2015-07-21872296ND
2015-07-21872308ND
2015-07-21872304ND
2015-07-218723100.250 ppb
2015-07-218723000.730 ppb
2015-07-218723060.880 ppb
2015-07-218722981.40 ppb
2015-07-218722991.50 ppb
2015-07-218723091.70 ppb
2015-07-22872696ND
2015-07-228726950.560 ppb
2015-10-198900020.960 ppb
2015-10-20890005ND
2015-10-208900031.50 ppb
2015-10-208899991.60 ppb
2015-10-208900073.50 ppb
2016-01-199021451.60 ppb
2016-01-20902149ND
2016-01-20902154ND
2016-01-209021530.570 ppb
2016-01-209021500.630 ppb
2016-01-209021521.10 ppb
2016-01-209021511.50 ppb
2016-01-209021571.60 ppb
2016-04-19916888ND
2016-04-199168930.810 ppb
2016-04-199168911.30 ppb
2016-04-199168921.40 ppb
2016-04-199168941.60 ppb
2016-07-19934709ND
2016-07-199347150.830 ppb
2016-07-199347051.40 ppb
2016-07-199347121.50 ppb
2016-07-199347171.60 ppb
2016-07-20935007ND
2016-08-24941620ND
2016-10-18954235ND
2016-10-189542291.20 ppb
2016-10-189542331.60 ppb
2016-10-189542271.70 ppb
2016-10-189542322.10 ppb
2017-01-18970480ND
2017-01-18970485ND
2017-01-18970482ND
2017-01-18970483ND
2017-01-18970484ND
2017-01-189704780.590 ppb
2017-01-189704771.20 ppb
2017-01-24970991ND
2017-01-24970992ND
2017-01-24970987ND
2017-01-24970990ND
2017-01-249709880.490 ppb
2017-01-249709861.000 ppb
2017-01-249709841.30 ppb
2017-02-169741461.80 ppb
2017-04-18984278ND
2017-04-18984283ND
2017-04-189842871.90 ppb
2017-04-189842881.90 ppb
2017-04-189842772.90 ppb
2017-04-19984290ND
2017-04-19984282ND
2017-04-19984279ND
2017-04-199842850.640 ppb
2017-04-199842760.700 ppb
2017-04-199842861.40 ppb
2017-04-199842842.20 ppb
2017-07-171004637ND
2017-07-1710046380.290 ppb
2017-07-1710046390.460 ppb
2017-07-1710046401.80 ppb
2017-07-181004645ND
2017-07-181004643ND
2017-07-181004644ND
2017-07-1810046420.540 ppb
2017-07-1810046841.30 ppb
2017-07-1810046411.40 ppb
2017-07-1810046463.40 ppb
2017-08-141010939ND
2017-10-161024785ND
2017-10-161024782ND
2017-10-1610247830.560 ppb
2017-10-1610247870.590 ppb
2017-10-1610247882.20 ppb
2017-10-1610247843.70 ppb
2017-10-1710247010.580 ppb
2017-12-1910343980.600 ppb
2018-01-161037644ND
2018-01-161037642ND
2018-01-161037638ND
2018-01-1610376400.450 ppb
2018-01-1610376470.590 ppb
2018-01-1610376431.80 ppb
2018-01-1610376453.30 ppb
2018-01-1710376500.510 ppb
2018-01-1710376480.990 ppb
2018-03-1310449352.10 ppb
2018-04-1639178370.400 ppb
2018-04-1639178340.900 ppb
2018-04-1639178391.30 ppb
2018-04-173917838ND
2018-04-1739178360.600 ppb
2018-04-1739178351.70 ppb
2018-07-173992320ND
2018-07-1739923170.300 ppb
2018-07-1739923160.400 ppb
2018-07-1739923150.900 ppb
2018-07-1739923101.30 ppb
2018-07-1739923191.30 ppb
2018-07-1739923181.90 ppb
2018-08-094018081ND
2018-09-111079452ND
2018-09-111079446ND
2018-09-111079449ND
2018-10-164091676ND
2018-10-164091678ND
2018-10-1640916750.600 ppb
2018-10-1640916771.50 ppb
2018-10-1740937400.400 ppb
2018-10-1740937381.000 ppb
2018-10-1740937392.00 ppb
2019-01-1611016930.460 ppb
2019-01-1611016270.620 ppb
2019-01-1611016232.00 ppb
2019-03-111109103ND
2019-03-1111091010.410 ppb
2019-03-1111091001.20 ppb
2019-03-1111091021.50 ppb
2019-04-161115494ND
2019-04-1611154860.350 ppb
2019-04-1611154110.530 ppb
2019-04-1611154841.20 ppb
2019-04-1611154141.70 ppb
2019-04-1611154921.90 ppb
2019-07-151134801ND
2019-07-1511348000.340 ppb
2019-07-1511347980.480 ppb
2019-07-1511347971.50 ppb
2019-07-1511347992.10 ppb
2019-07-161134802ND
2019-07-1611348032.20 ppb
2019-07-1811357620.750 ppb
2019-10-1411552750.370 ppb
2019-10-1411552720.970 ppb
2019-10-1411552763.40 ppb
2019-10-1511552740.610 ppb
2019-10-1511552731.80 ppb