Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Aqua Water Supply Corporation

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.

 

50

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND110ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-02-05AC41501ND
2014-02-05AC41499ND
2014-08-13AC63409ND
2015-02-09AC79748ND
2015-02-09AC79752ND
2015-02-09AC79742ND
2015-02-09AC79744ND
2015-02-09AC79750ND
2015-02-09AC79746ND
2015-02-10AC79981ND
2015-02-10AC79973ND
2015-02-10AC79985ND
2015-02-10AC79983ND
2015-02-10AC79977ND
2016-01-26AD20134ND
2016-01-26AD20116ND
2016-01-26AD20118ND
2016-01-26AD20130ND
2016-01-26AD20138ND
2016-01-26AD20122ND
2016-01-26AD20120ND
2016-01-26AD20124ND
2017-01-11AD64322ND
2017-01-11AD64332ND
2017-01-11AD64334ND
2017-01-11AD64336ND
2017-01-12AD64778ND
2017-01-12AD64780ND
2017-01-12AD64786ND
2017-01-12AD64782ND
2017-01-12AD64776ND
2018-01-25AE10610ND
2018-01-25AE10604ND
2018-01-25AE10548ND
2018-01-25AE10554ND
2018-01-25AE10542ND
2018-01-25AE10624ND
2018-01-25AE10546ND
2018-01-25AE10620ND
2018-01-25AE10552ND
2018-01-25AE10544ND
2018-01-25AE10550ND
2019-05-15AE66520ND
2019-05-15AE66532ND
2019-05-15AE66530ND
2019-05-15AE66524ND
2019-05-15AE66522ND
2019-05-15AE66518ND
2019-05-15AE66528ND
2019-05-15AE66526ND