Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Valley Water Company

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

 

295

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

117

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.744 ppb4519ND - 3.10 ppb
20150.448 ppb5319ND - 2.20 ppb
20160.493 ppb4621ND - 1.90 ppb
20170.447 ppb4520ND - 1.40 ppb
20180.326 ppb6021ND - 1.40 ppb
20190.328 ppb4617ND - 1.50 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
2014-05-059590-008-1030ND
2014-05-079588-002-10152.60 ppb
2014-05-079588-003-09003.10 ppb
2014-05-079588-004-09151.80 ppb
2014-05-079588-005-09451.50 ppb
2014-05-129590-008-1015ND
2014-05-199590-008-0800ND
2014-05-279590-008-0815ND
2014-06-029590-008-0730ND
2014-06-049588-002-10302.50 ppb
2014-06-049588-003-09052.00 ppb
2014-06-049588-004-09251.40 ppb
2014-06-049588-005-09251.30 ppb
2014-06-099590-008-0800ND
2014-06-169590-008-0800ND
2014-06-239590-008-0815ND
2014-07-029588-002-09052.10 ppb
2014-07-029588-003-09201.90 ppb
2014-07-029588-004-09551.50 ppb
2014-07-029588-005-10251.50 ppb
2014-07-029590-008-0910ND
2014-07-079590-008-0830ND
2014-07-149590-008-0800ND
2014-07-219590-008-0840ND
2014-07-289590-008-0830ND
2014-08-049590-008-0845ND
2014-08-059588-002-10552.00 ppb
2014-08-059588-003-09101.70 ppb
2014-08-059588-004-10301.10 ppb
2014-08-059588-005-09400.980 ppb
2014-08-119590-008-0730ND
2014-08-189590-008-0815ND
2014-08-259590-008-0850ND
2014-09-029590-008-0900ND
2014-09-039590-002-08101.50 ppb
2014-09-039590-003-08301.50 ppb
2014-09-099590-008-0800ND
2014-09-159590-008-0830ND
2014-09-229590-008-0830ND
2014-09-299590-008-0800ND
2014-10-069590-008-0730ND
2014-10-079590-003-09151.50 ppb
2014-10-139590-008-0830ND
2014-10-209590-008-0800ND
2014-10-279590-008-0730ND
2015-04-069590-008-1115ND
2015-04-109590-002-10301.40 ppb
2015-04-139590-008-0900ND
2015-04-209590-008-0800ND
2015-04-279590-008-0820ND
2015-05-049590-008-0900ND
2015-05-089590-008-1455ND
2015-05-119590-008-0815ND
2015-05-189590-008-0910ND
2015-05-269590-008-0830ND
2015-06-019588-002-10001.10 ppb
2015-06-019588-003-10301.80 ppb
2015-06-019588-004-09300.950 ppb
2015-06-019588-005-10550.690 ppb
2015-06-019590-008-1120ND
2015-06-049590-008-1335ND
2015-06-089590-008-1110ND
2015-06-159590-008-0815ND
2015-06-229590-008-0800ND
2015-06-299590-008-0830ND
2015-07-019588-002-10201.000 ppb
2015-07-019588-004-09500.860 ppb
2015-07-019588-005-09100.760 ppb
2015-07-069590-008-1120ND
2015-07-139590-008-0730ND
2015-07-209590-008-0740ND
2015-07-279590-008-0840ND
2015-08-039590-008-1045ND
2015-08-049588-002-09051.10 ppb
2015-08-049588-003-10252.00 ppb
2015-08-049588-004-09551.000 ppb
2015-08-049588-005-09150.710 ppb
2015-08-109590-008-1040ND
2015-08-179590-008-0800ND
2015-08-249590-008-0745ND
2015-08-319590-008-0830ND
2015-09-029590-003-10002.20 ppb
2015-09-089590-008-0800ND
2015-09-099590-002-10201.30 ppb
2015-09-099590-005-11101.50 ppb
2015-09-109590-008-1340ND
2015-09-149590-008-0800ND
2015-09-219590-008-1115ND
2015-09-289590-008-0800ND
2015-10-059590-002-09451.50 ppb
2015-10-059590-003-08501.60 ppb
2015-10-059590-008-0815ND
2015-10-129590-008-1100ND
2015-10-199590-008-0830ND
2015-10-269590-008-0805ND
2015-11-029590-002-09151.20 ppb
2015-11-029590-003-09301.10 ppb
2015-11-029590-008-0945ND
2016-03-019590-003-0810ND
2016-03-019590-008-0820ND
2016-04-049590-005-12150.610 ppb
2016-04-049590-008-1225ND
2016-04-119590-008-0810ND
2016-04-189590-008-0750ND
2016-04-259590-008-0815ND
2016-05-029590-008-0800ND
2016-05-049590-005-08150.690 ppb
2016-05-099590-008-0815ND
2016-05-139588-002-09301.000 ppb
2016-05-139588-003-10351.10 ppb
2016-05-139588-004-10101.10 ppb
2016-05-139588-005-09000.590 ppb
2016-05-169590-008-0840ND
2016-05-179590-003-10551.60 ppb
2016-05-179590-008-1115ND
2016-05-239590-008-0800ND
2016-06-019588-002-10251.50 ppb
2016-06-019588-003-09050.850 ppb
2016-06-019588-004-09301.000 ppb
2016-06-019588-005-09550.940 ppb
2016-06-019590-008-0820ND
2016-07-019588-002-09201.30 ppb
2016-07-019588-003-09300.920 ppb
2016-07-019588-004-10001.60 ppb
2016-07-019588-005-10300.940 ppb
2016-07-059590-008-0835ND
2016-07-119590-008-0815ND
2016-07-189590-008-0845ND
2016-07-259590-008-0815ND
2016-08-019590-008-0915ND
2016-08-039588-002-09001.10 ppb
2016-08-039588-003-09100.860 ppb
2016-08-039588-004-09351.40 ppb
2016-08-039588-005-10100.890 ppb
2016-08-089590-008-0820ND
2016-08-159590-008-0800ND
2016-08-229590-008-0840ND
2016-08-299590-008-0815ND
2016-10-039590-008-0820ND
2016-10-109590-008-0820ND
2016-10-189590-002-08151.90 ppb
2016-10-189590-003-08150.780 ppb
2016-10-189590-008-0815ND
2016-10-259590-008-0830ND
2017-05-159590-008-0950ND
2017-05-179588-002-10251.40 ppb
2017-05-179588-003-09300.770 ppb
2017-05-179588-004-09551.20 ppb
2017-05-179588-005-10550.940 ppb
2017-05-199590-008-1300ND
2017-05-229590-008-0820ND
2017-05-309590-008-0810ND
2017-06-029588-002-10451.40 ppb
2017-06-029588-003-11000.780 ppb
2017-06-029588-004-11200.510 ppb
2017-06-029588-005-11500.900 ppb
2017-07-059590-008-0900ND
2017-07-109590-008-0845ND
2017-07-119588-002-09501.20 ppb
2017-07-119588-003-09350.840 ppb
2017-07-119588-005-10151.000 ppb
2017-07-139588-004-1145ND
2017-07-189590-008-0845ND
2017-07-249590-008-0800ND
2017-08-019590-008-0850ND
2017-08-029588-002-09401.30 ppb
2017-08-029588-003-09500.680 ppb
2017-08-029588-004-1015ND
2017-08-029588-005-10451.30 ppb
2017-08-079590-008-0820ND
2017-08-149590-008-0815ND
2017-08-219590-008-0850ND
2017-08-289590-008-0820ND
2017-09-059590-008-0820ND
2017-09-119590-008-0950ND
2017-09-189590-008-0800ND
2017-09-259590-008-0800ND
2017-09-289590-002-15301.20 ppb
2017-09-289590-003-15450.740 ppb
2017-10-029590-008-0815ND
2017-10-039590-002-07451.30 ppb
2017-10-039590-003-08000.560 ppb
2017-10-099590-008-0830ND
2017-10-169590-008-0815ND
2017-10-239590-008-0840ND
2017-10-309590-008-1015ND
2017-11-029590-002-08451.40 ppb
2017-11-029590-003-08550.710 ppb
2017-11-029590-008-0915ND
2018-03-129590-002-1005ND
2018-03-129590-003-1050ND
2018-03-129590-008-1345ND
2018-03-192920-008-0850ND
2018-03-269590-008-1110ND
2018-05-029588-002-08550.780 ppb
2018-05-029588-003-0910ND
2018-05-029588-004-09501.20 ppb
2018-05-029588-005-10001.20 ppb
2018-05-039590-008-0735ND
2018-05-079590-008-0800ND
2018-05-149590-008-0910ND
2018-05-229590-008-0905ND
2018-05-299590-008-1445ND
2018-06-049590-008-0800ND
2018-06-059588-002-09100.870 ppb
2018-06-059588-003-09200.520 ppb
2018-06-059588-004-09400.520 ppb
2018-06-059588-005-10101.20 ppb
2018-06-119590-008-0805ND
2018-06-189590-008-0840ND
2018-06-252920-008-0802ND
2018-06-259590-008-0802ND
2018-07-022920-008-0800ND
2018-07-029590-008-0800ND
2018-07-039588-002-09101.10 ppb
2018-07-039588-003-09200.600 ppb
2018-07-039588-004-09350.970 ppb
2018-07-039588-005-10001.40 ppb
2018-07-099590-008-0840ND
2018-07-162920-008-0815ND
2018-07-169590-008-0815ND
2018-07-239590-008-0800ND
2018-07-309590-008-0815ND
2018-08-019588-002-09201.10 ppb
2018-08-019588-003-09300.640 ppb
2018-08-019588-004-10051.000 ppb
2018-08-019588-005-10201.30 ppb
2018-08-062920-008-1515ND
2018-08-069590-008-1515ND
2018-08-139590-008-0800ND
2018-08-209590-008-0815ND
2018-08-279590-008-0820ND
2018-09-049590-002-09301.30 ppb
2018-09-049590-003-09100.550 ppb
2018-09-049590-008-0800ND
2018-09-109590-008-0800ND
2018-09-179590-008-0810ND
2018-09-249590-008-0800ND
2018-10-019590-008-1050ND
2018-10-039590-002-10101.20 ppb
2018-10-039590-003-10200.590 ppb
2018-10-089590-008-0820ND
2018-10-179590-008-0800ND
2018-10-229590-008-0800ND
2018-10-299590-008-0830ND
2018-11-059590-008-0800ND
2018-11-069590-002-07450.980 ppb
2018-11-069590-003-08500.540 ppb
2018-11-129590-008-0745ND
2019-05-069590-008-1315ND
2019-05-079588-002-09150.910 ppb
2019-05-079588-003-09250.610 ppb
2019-05-079588-004-09400.700 ppb
2019-05-079588-005-10100.730 ppb
2019-05-139590-008-0750ND
2019-05-209590-008-0800ND
2019-05-289590-008-0820ND
2019-06-039590-008-0830ND
2019-06-049588-002-09051.10 ppb
2019-06-049588-003-09150.770 ppb
2019-06-049588-004-09450.560 ppb
2019-06-049588-005-10101.000 ppb
2019-06-109590-008-0800ND
2019-06-179590-008-0810ND
2019-06-249590-008-0830ND
2019-07-019590-008-0800ND
2019-07-029588-002-09151.10 ppb
2019-07-029588-003-09250.790 ppb
2019-07-029588-004-0950ND
2019-07-089590-008-0810ND
2019-07-159590-008-0840ND
2019-07-229590-008-0800ND
2019-07-299590-008-0830ND
2019-08-059590-008-0855ND
2019-08-069588-002-09001.000 ppb
2019-08-069588-003-09100.660 ppb
2019-08-069588-004-0930ND
2019-08-129590-008-0845ND
2019-08-199590-008-0850ND
2019-08-269590-008-0825ND
2019-09-039590-002-09200.860 ppb
2019-09-039590-003-0930ND
2019-09-039588-005-10351.50 ppb
2019-09-039590-008-0800ND
2019-09-099590-008-0915ND
2019-09-169590-008-0810ND
2019-09-239590-008-0830ND
2019-10-019590-008-0807ND
2019-10-029590-002-10351.10 ppb
2019-10-029590-003-10100.500 ppb
2019-10-029588-005-09151.20 ppb
2019-10-079590-008-0845ND
2019-10-149590-008-0815ND
2019-10-219590-008-0820ND
2019-10-289590-008-0830ND