Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

East Orange Water Commission

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.

 

365

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

266

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20141.00 ppb138113ND - 3.72 ppb
20151.04 ppb6867ND - 2.18 ppb
20160.893 ppb9586ND - 2.18 ppb
2017ND240ND
2018ND220ND
2019ND180ND

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
2014-01-0724913-11.04 ppb
2014-01-0924970-10.680 ppb
2014-01-0924970-22.98 ppb
2014-01-1425006-10.900 ppb
2014-01-2125140-10.980 ppb
2014-01-2825218-11.06 ppb
2014-01-3125276-11.93 ppb
2014-01-3125276-2ND
2014-01-3125276-52.52 ppb
2014-01-3125276-31.06 ppb
2014-01-3125276-40.930 ppb
2014-02-0625316-10.890 ppb
2014-02-0725337-10.550 ppb
2014-02-0725337-22.58 ppb
2014-02-1125394-10.750 ppb
2014-02-1825484-10.940 ppb
2014-02-2125559-21.53 ppb
2014-02-2125559-1ND
2014-02-2125559-31.89 ppb
2014-02-2125559-50.770 ppb
2014-02-2125559-40.690 ppb
2014-02-2525576-10.790 ppb
2014-03-0425672-10.880 ppb
2014-03-0625737-20.560 ppb
2014-03-0625737-32.43 ppb
2014-03-0625737-1ND
2014-03-1125775-10.850 ppb
2014-03-1325847-21.74 ppb
2014-03-1325847-1ND
2014-03-1425864-3ND
2014-03-1425864-4ND
2014-03-1425864-22.07 ppb
2014-03-1425864-10.780 ppb
2014-03-1825881-10.970 ppb
2014-03-2526003-10.950 ppb
2014-03-2526002-2ND
2014-03-2526002-3ND
2014-03-2526002-1ND
2014-04-0226091-11.01 ppb
2014-04-1026219-11.09 ppb
2014-04-1126230-11.11 ppb
2014-04-1526276-11.23 ppb
2014-04-1726318-22.80 ppb
2014-04-1726318-1ND
2014-04-1726317-12.73 ppb
2014-04-1726318-32.47 ppb
2014-04-1726318-40.930 ppb
2014-04-1726318-50.880 ppb
2014-04-2226360-11.29 ppb
2014-04-2426411-22.81 ppb
2014-04-2426411-10.730 ppb
2014-04-2926464-11.25 ppb
2014-05-0726577-11.32 ppb
2014-05-0826615-23.26 ppb
2014-05-0826615-1ND
2014-05-0826615-33.09 ppb
2014-05-0826615-40.930 ppb
2014-05-0826615-50.840 ppb
2014-05-1326667-11.24 ppb
2014-05-1426681-10.880 ppb
2014-05-1926759-1ND
2014-05-2126792-11.09 ppb
2014-05-2226819-42.70 ppb
2014-05-2226819-10.740 ppb
2014-05-2226819-22.73 ppb
2014-05-2226819-32.49 ppb
2014-05-2726878-11.06 ppb
2014-06-0927071-10.880 ppb
2014-06-1027079-10.800 ppb
2014-06-1027097-10.870 ppb
2014-06-1127122-10.970 ppb
2014-06-1227158-12.26 ppb
2014-06-1227158-2ND
2014-06-1227158-31.67 ppb
2014-06-1227158-40.940 ppb
2014-06-1227158-50.870 ppb
2014-06-1727241-11.03 ppb
2014-06-1927330-11.17 ppb
2014-06-1927331-10.740 ppb
2014-06-1927331-22.67 ppb
2014-06-2027346-11.18 ppb
2014-06-2027371-1ND
2014-06-2027371-2ND
2014-06-2427397-11.13 ppb
2014-06-3027523-10.980 ppb
2014-07-1027714-10.970 ppb
2014-07-1027713-1ND
2014-07-1027713-2ND
2014-07-1027713-3ND
2014-07-1527777-10.990 ppb
2014-07-2327976-10.780 ppb
2014-07-2828019-10.770 ppb
2014-07-3028095-10.640 ppb
2014-07-3128096-10.670 ppb
2014-08-0428121-10.610 ppb
2014-08-0528147-10.650 ppb
2014-08-06DWS032-10.750 ppb
2014-08-06DWS031-10.660 ppb
2014-08-06DWS033-1ND
2014-08-1228234-10.630 ppb
2014-08-1928458-10.550 ppb
2014-08-2628543-10.640 ppb
2014-08-2728573-1ND
2014-08-2728573-20.750 ppb
2014-08-2728573-30.860 ppb
2014-09-0228651-10.780 ppb
2014-09-0828701-20.650 ppb
2014-09-0828701-1ND
2014-09-1028778-10.600 ppb
2014-09-1028777-1ND
2014-09-1228836-10.520 ppb
2014-09-1228835-1ND
2014-09-1528859-10.510 ppb
2014-09-1728911-1ND
2014-09-1828912-10.610 ppb
2014-09-2329005-10.740 ppb
2014-10-0729281-10.910 ppb
2014-10-1429393-11.01 ppb
2014-10-2129490-11.26 ppb
2014-10-2229541-11.33 ppb
2014-10-2329543-11.12 ppb
2014-10-2429585-11.47 ppb
2014-10-2729600-10.860 ppb
2014-10-2829598-10.820 ppb
2014-10-2829599-13.72 ppb
2014-11-0329679-10.900 ppb
2014-11-1029769-10.830 ppb
2014-11-1029768-13.20 ppb
2014-11-1429897-1ND
2014-11-1729909-10.890 ppb
2014-11-1929963-10.670 ppb
2014-11-2430038-10.750 ppb
2014-12-0230114-10.880 ppb
2014-12-0930243-10.820 ppb
2014-12-1630355-10.850 ppb
2014-12-2330475-11.000 ppb
2014-12-3030555-11.11 ppb
2014-12-3030556-10.970 ppb
2015-01-0630599-10.930 ppb
2015-01-0730666-11.02 ppb
2015-01-1330753-10.930 ppb
2015-01-1330754-10.890 ppb
2015-01-1530803-11.39 ppb
2015-01-2130882-10.950 ppb
2015-01-2630938-10.810 ppb
2015-02-0531104-11.05 ppb
2015-02-1031146-10.890 ppb
2015-02-2031324-10.880 ppb
2015-02-2431365-10.860 ppb
2015-03-0331492-10.980 ppb
2015-03-0531545-22.18 ppb
2015-03-0531545-1ND
2015-03-1031593-10.970 ppb
2015-03-2031784-11.04 ppb
2015-03-2431820-11.02 ppb
2015-04-0131924-11.05 ppb
2015-04-07DWS111-11.04 ppb
2015-04-14DWS194-11.14 ppb
2015-04-16DWS240-11.14 ppb
2015-04-21DWS310-11.13 ppb
2015-04-28DWS318-11.01 ppb
2015-05-06DWS466-11.09 ppb
2015-05-13DWS534-11.15 ppb
2015-05-19DWS539-11.000 ppb
2015-05-26DWS627-11.10 ppb
2015-06-02DWS686-11.19 ppb
2015-06-09DWS776-10.940 ppb
2015-06-16DWS862-10.950 ppb
2015-06-20DWS982-10.900 ppb
2015-06-23DWS921-10.920 ppb
2015-07-07DWS1065-10.900 ppb
2015-07-14DWSC24-10.910 ppb
2015-07-21DWSC67-10.860 ppb
2015-07-21DWSC66-10.870 ppb
2015-07-22DWSC72-10.900 ppb
2015-07-28DWSC98-10.910 ppb
2015-08-10DWSC166-10.980 ppb
2015-08-18DWSC226-11.05 ppb
2015-08-24DWSC264-10.970 ppb
2015-08-25DWSC285-11.18 ppb
2015-09-01DWSC303-11.14 ppb
2015-09-08DWSC338-11.03 ppb
2015-09-15DWSC383-10.850 ppb
2015-10-06DWSC535-11.12 ppb
2015-10-09DWSC574-11.04 ppb
2015-10-13DWSC579-10.970 ppb
2015-10-20DWSC628-11.04 ppb
2015-10-22DWSC658-11.30 ppb
2015-10-23DWSC681-11.37 ppb
2015-10-27DWSC667-11.36 ppb
2015-10-28DWSC682-11.30 ppb
2015-10-305110004-010.913 ppb
2015-11-045110115-011.14 ppb
2015-11-065110210-011.19 ppb
2015-11-105110310-011.10 ppb
2015-11-115110403-011.17 ppb
2015-11-125110418-011.12 ppb
2015-11-165110527-010.890 ppb
2015-11-245110715-011.15 ppb
2015-12-015120004-011.02 ppb
2015-12-055120195-010.932 ppb
2015-12-085120226-011.06 ppb
2015-12-155120439-011.20 ppb
2015-12-225120663-011.26 ppb
2015-12-285120771-011.14 ppb
2015-12-295120772-010.990 ppb
2016-01-056010029-010.989 ppb
2016-01-136010300-011.14 ppb
2016-01-146010330-011.10 ppb
2016-01-156010434-011.08 ppb
2016-01-196010435-011.32 ppb
2016-01-206010477-011.13 ppb
2016-01-266010614-012.18 ppb
2016-01-266010640-011.18 ppb
2016-01-276010639-011.17 ppb
2016-01-286010673-010.992 ppb
2016-01-296020018-011.23 ppb
2016-02-026020047-011.34 ppb
2016-02-046020138-010.968 ppb
2016-02-096020259-011.13 ppb
2016-02-106020342-011.05 ppb
2016-02-196020522-011.27 ppb
2016-02-236020588-010.979 ppb
2016-03-016030009-011.39 ppb
2016-03-046030195-011.39 ppb
2016-03-086030253-011.13 ppb
2016-03-156030466-011.18 ppb
2016-03-236030717-011.39 ppb
2016-03-296030898-011.20 ppb
2016-04-026040051-011.09 ppb
2016-04-036040052-011.24 ppb
2016-04-046040064-011.30 ppb
2016-04-056040126-011.40 ppb
2016-04-076040204-011.37 ppb
2016-04-086040290-011.25 ppb
2016-04-086040310-011.64 ppb
2016-04-096040357-010.982 ppb
2016-04-106040356-010.691 ppb
2016-04-106040355-010.827 ppb
2016-04-116040365-010.743 ppb
2016-04-126040394-010.776 ppb
2016-04-146040503-010.855 ppb
2016-04-196040662-010.817 ppb
2016-04-266040844-010.788 ppb
2016-05-036050054-011.08 ppb
2016-05-106050327-011.20 ppb
2016-05-166050537-011.05 ppb
2016-05-316050905-011.22 ppb
2016-06-066060253-010.916 ppb
2016-06-146060417-010.698 ppb
2016-06-216060623-010.958 ppb
2016-06-246060771-010.965 ppb
2016-06-286060838-010.810 ppb
2016-07-056070046-010.876 ppb
2016-07-136070327-011.18 ppb
2016-07-196070486-010.916 ppb
2016-08-026080055-010.954 ppb
2016-08-056080198-010.982 ppb
2016-08-056080197-010.908 ppb
2016-08-086080240-010.900 ppb
2016-08-096080281-010.925 ppb
2016-08-096080299-010.974 ppb
2016-08-106080344-011.03 ppb
2016-08-126080487-010.849 ppb
2016-08-166080528-010.880 ppb
2016-08-176080621-010.892 ppb
2016-08-186080665-010.954 ppb
2016-08-226080703-010.932 ppb
2016-08-236080745-010.958 ppb
2016-08-256080841-010.796 ppb
2016-08-266080913-010.925 ppb
2016-08-316080996-011.05 ppb
2016-08-316080980-011.04 ppb
2016-09-016090011-010.930 ppb
2016-09-026090073-011.12 ppb
2016-09-066090143-010.911 ppb
2016-09-076090140-010.904 ppb
2016-09-126090296-010.654 ppb
2016-09-136090312-010.691 ppb
2016-09-146090375-010.722 ppb
2016-09-166090445-010.774 ppb
2016-09-206090538-010.851 ppb
2016-09-296090786-010.579 ppb
2016-09-306090820-010.467 ppb
2016-10-026100019-010.698 ppb
2016-10-046100090-010.494 ppb
2016-10-046100044-010.850 ppb
2016-10-116100292-010.434 ppb
2016-10-136100397-010.646 ppb
2016-10-136100396-010.805 ppb
2016-10-146100423-010.405 ppb
2016-10-176100458-010.362 ppb
2016-10-206100579-01ND
2016-10-266100762-01ND
2016-11-016110001-01ND
2016-11-076110205-01ND
2016-11-156110447-01ND
2016-11-226110704-01ND
2016-12-016120005-01ND
2016-12-076120217-01ND
2016-12-136120413-01ND
2017-01-037010004-01ND
2017-01-047010035-01ND
2017-01-257010597-01ND
2017-02-087020222-01ND
2017-02-227020604-01ND
2017-03-077030170-01ND
2017-03-217030492-01ND
2017-04-047040044-01ND
2017-04-197040528-01ND
2017-05-027050055-01ND
2017-05-247050850-01ND
2017-06-077060198-01ND
2017-07-127070319-01ND
2017-07-187070474-01ND
2017-08-107080399-01ND
2017-08-237080831-01ND
2017-09-067090097-01ND
2017-09-207090610-01ND
2017-10-037100033-01ND
2017-10-257100771-01ND
2017-11-077110292-01ND
2017-11-287110898-01ND
2017-12-057120104-01ND
2017-12-207120618-01ND
2018-01-058010087-01ND
2018-01-238010580-01ND
2018-02-208020601-01ND
2018-03-208030594-01ND
2018-04-038040026-01ND
2018-04-248040844-01ND
2018-05-088050333-01ND
2018-05-228050940-01ND
2018-06-118060408-01ND
2018-07-038070076-01ND
2018-07-248070946-01ND
2018-08-078080232-01ND
2018-08-288081162-01ND
2018-09-048090030-01ND
2018-09-188090645-01ND
2018-10-098100388-01ND
2018-10-258101080-01ND
2018-11-088110318-01ND
2018-11-288111004-02ND
2018-11-288111004-01ND
2018-12-128120388-01ND
2018-12-198120656-01ND
2019-01-239010787-01ND
2019-02-059020077-01ND
2019-02-209020715-01ND
2019-03-129030419-01ND
2019-03-269031011-01ND
2019-04-049040248-01ND
2019-04-189040829-01ND
2019-05-159050674-01ND
2019-06-119060360-01ND
2019-06-289061186-01ND
2019-07-179070836-01ND
2019-08-069080180-01ND
2019-08-289081407-01ND
2019-09-109090396-01ND
2019-09-199090873-01ND
2019-10-099100436-01ND
2019-10-229101022-01ND
2019-12-119120440-01ND