Carbon tetrachloride
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Carbon tetrachloride, a volatile carcinogenic solvent, has been used in industrial chemical production and as a dry cleaning ingredient. Read More.
Carbon tetrachloride is no longer permitted in products intended for home use in the U.S. In the past, it was widely used as a dry cleaning ingredient, fire extinguishing chemical, pesticide and chemical intermediate for manufacturing refrigerants. Carbon tetrachloride does not break down easily and can remain in groundwater for years. In addition to increasing cancer risk, carbon tetrachloride harms the liver and causes central nervous system depression, irregular heart rate, and kidney damage. Maternal exposure to carbon tetrachloride in drinking water has been associated with a risk of birth defects.
2017-2019:
32
states detected
225
utilities detected
3.1 million
people served
28
states over health guideline
124
utilities over health guideline
1.4 million
people served over health guideline
1
states over legal limit
1
utilities over legal limit
71
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for carbon tetrachloride
Cancer
Harm to the liver
Harm to the central nervous system
Harm to the kidney
Decrease in fertility
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for carbon tetrachloride 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 carbon tetrachloride, established in 1987, 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 carbon tetrachloride exposure.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting carbon tetrachloride in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 9 | 902,342 | 12 | 952,721 | |||
| New Jersey | 1 | 100 | 10 | 420,184 | |||
| Florida | 8 | 30,503 | 24 | 375,085 | |||
| New York | 9 | 57,472 | 19 | 326,842 | |||
| Texas | 23 | 202,977 | 29 | 224,088 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 5 | 153,527 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 13 | 137,246 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 101,876 | 8 | 133,523 | |||
| Indiana | 1 | 1,100 | 2 | 113,500 | |||
| Illinois | 2 | 33,329 | 9 | 92,886 | |||
| Mississippi | 10 | 16,332 | 18 | 56,465 | |||
| Tennessee | 1 | 52 | 4 | 31,514 | |||
| Oklahoma | 2 | 1,381 | 8 | 20,936 | |||
| Ohio | 2 | 10,076 | 4 | 16,576 | |||
| Kansas | 12 | 16,519 | 13 | 16,564 | |||
| Wisconsin | 3 | 2,625 | 4 | 14,370 | |||
| Missouri | 5 | 12,325 | 6 | 12,850 | |||
| Michigan | 3 | 10,027 | 3 | 10,027 | |||
| North Carolina | 7 | 7,185 | 8 | 9,005 | |||
| Louisiana | 2 | 8,739 | 2 | 8,739 | |||
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3,528 | |||
| Minnesota | 4 | 3,300 | 4 | 3,300 | |||
| Nebraska | 4 | 1,219 | 6 | 2,688 | |||
| New Mexico | 1 | 2,021 | 1 | 2,021 | |||
| Virginia | 1 | 1,500 | 1 | 1,500 | |||
| Georgia | 3 | 1,469 | 3 | 1,469 | |||
| Washington | 2 | 820 | 3 | 860 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 1 | 625 | |||
| Maryland | 1 | 600 | 1 | 600 | |||
| Connecticut | 1 | 228 | 1 | 228 | |||
| Maine | 1 | 146 | 1 | 146 | |||
| Arizona | 1 | 42 | 1 | 42 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce carbon tetrachloride
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of carbon tetrachloride, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garber Municipal Authority | Garber, OK | 13 of 13 | 6.21 ppb | 845 |
| Cullom | Cullom, IL | 1 of 2 | 4.83 ppb | 563 |
| Melody Manor Subdivision | Reeds Spring, MO | 1 of 4 | 4.18 ppb | 71 |
| Pueblo Heights Mobile Home Park | Globe, AZ | 2 of 7 | 2.41 ppb | 400 |
| Route 66 Homes | Cuba, MO | 1 of 7 | 2.27 ppb | 35 |
| Rustic Ridge Mobile Home Park | Bunn, NC | 8 of 13 | 2.05 ppb | 117 |
| Rose Creek | Rose Creek, MN | 3 of 7 | 1.69 ppb | 400 |
| Riley`s Mobile Home Park | Chapel Hill, NC | 1 of 12 | 1.50 ppb | 65 |
| Ridgewood Mobile Home Park | Chapel Hill, NC | 2 of 4 | 1.45 ppb | 135 |
| Kress Municipal Water System | Kress, TX | 16 of 31 | 1.43 ppb | 715 |
| Belfast Township Muni Authority | Needmore, PA | 5 of 7 | 1.40 ppb | 276 |
| Sherwood Forest Water Company | Sherwood Forest, MD | 1 of 1 | 1.31 ppb | 1,200 |
| Greenfield Public Works Authority | Greenfield, OK | 10 of 11 | 1.21 ppb | 123 |
| Geary* | Geary, OK | 10 of 11 | 1.21 ppb | 1,258 |
| Upland, Village of | Upland, NE | 5 of 12 | 1.12 ppb | 176 |
| Bicknell Municipal Utilities | Freelandville, IN | 1 of 10 | 1.10 ppb | 4,064 |
| Ponderosa Community Services District | Springville, CA | 2 of 14 | 1.08 ppb | 200 |
| Bladen, Village of | Bladen, NE | 3 of 8 | 1.08 ppb | 237 |
| Raymond, Village of | Waverly, NE | 7 of 16 | 0.831 ppb | 220 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 318 of 1,392 | 0.746 ppb | 48,000 |
| Treasure Island | Burlingame, CA | 2 of 4 | 0.725 ppb | 2,400 |
| San Francisco City Water System* | Burlingame, CA | 2 of 4 | 0.725 ppb | 800,000 |
| Pierceton Water Works | Pierceton, IN | 1 of 2 | 0.700 ppb | 1,100 |
| Guilford Lake Estates | Tallmadge, OH | 1 of 3 | 0.693 ppb | 125 |
| Morrisville State College | Madison, NY | 12 of 20 | 0.660 ppb | 3,450 |
| Lower Rio Grande Public Water Works Authority East Mesa | Anthony, NM | 5 of 13 | 0.635 ppb | 2,021 |
| Claflin, City of | Claflin, KS | 8 of 22 | 0.582 ppb | 612 |
| Lincoln Avenue Water Company | Altadena, CA | 26 of 97 | 0.551 ppb | 16,000 |
| Shade Tree Acres | Denver, NC | 4 of 6 | 0.508 ppb | 28 |
| Copeland, City of | Copeland, KS | 3 of 5 | 0.502 ppb | 298 |
| SIRWA #2 (Creston)* | Creston, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 18,510 |
| Lenox Water Supply | Lenox, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 1,407 |
| Oak Ridge Mobile Home Park | Allenhurst, GA | 1 of 3 | 0.500 ppb | 81 |
| Mount Ayr Water Treatment Plant | Mount Ayr, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 1,691 |
| Bingham Woods Mobile Home Park | Chapel Hill, NC | 1 of 3 | 0.500 ppb | 190 |
| Diagonal Water Department | Diagonal, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 330 |
| Kellerton Water Supply | Kellerton, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 315 |
| Murray Water Works | Murray, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 756 |
| Bedford Water Works | Bedford, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 1,485 |
| Ausable Heights Water System | Keeseville, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 46 |
| Sebeka | Sebeka, MN | 1 of 1 | 0.450 ppb | 676 |
| Cmu - Lake Caroline | Canton, MS | 1 of 11 | 0.408 ppb | 5,066 |
| Lee Villa Mobile Home Park | Adrian, MI | 4 of 5 | 0.400 ppb | 283 |
| New Madrid County Public Water Supply District 5 | Gideon, MO | 3 of 14 | 0.384 ppb | 2,200 |
| Rocky River Plantation S/d* | Charlotte, NC | 1 of 6 | 0.383 ppb | 264 |
| Mcmillian Acres S/d | Harrisburg, NC | 1 of 6 | 0.383 ppb | 71 |
| Utilities Inc. - North Folsom Hills | Mandeville, LA | 2 of 8 | 0.378 ppb | 81 |
| Echols County Water Authority | Statenville, GA | 9 of 18 | 0.371 ppb | 824 |
| Morrowville, City of | Morrowville, KS | 4 of 15 | 0.368 ppb | 76 |
| Washington County Rural Water District 1* | Hanover, KS | 4 of 15 | 0.368 ppb | 1,093 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Carbon tetrachloride, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 318 of 1,392 | 0.746 ppb | 48,000 |
| San Francisco City Water System* | Burlingame, CA | 2 of 4 | 0.725 ppb | 800,000 |
| Lincoln Avenue Water Company | Altadena, CA | 26 of 97 | 0.551 ppb | 16,000 |
| SIRWA #2 (Creston)* | Creston, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 18,510 |
| City of Salina* | Salina, KS | 1 of 3 | 0.313 ppb | 46,716 |
| City of Mount Holly* | Mount Holly, NC | 1 of 10 | 0.280 ppb | 17,780 |
| City of Odessa* | Odessa, TX | 1 of 6 | 0.240 ppb | 97,802 |
| Ector County Utility District | Odessa, TX | 1 of 6 | 0.240 ppb | 15,300 |
| City of Brenham* | Brenham, TX | 2 of 9 | 0.211 ppb | 15,716 |
| City of Mercedes* | Mercedes, TX | 1 of 9 | 0.211 ppb | 15,700 |
| Sioux City Water Supply* | Sioux City, IA | 1 of 5 | 0.200 ppb | 82,759 |
| City of Heath PWS | Heath, OH | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 10,000 |
| Lakeshore Swartz Water System | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.125 ppb | 11,330 |
| North Monroe Et Al Water System | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.125 ppb | 10,866 |
| Monroe Water System* | Monroe, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.125 ppb | 52,572 |
| Auburn Water System | Crestview, FL | 7 of 15 | 0.117 ppb | 25,344 |
| City of Denison* | Denison, TX | 1 of 10 | 0.111 ppb | 22,682 |
| Tinker AFB Bio-env Eng* | Tinker Afb, OK | 1 of 58 | 0.110 ppb | 24,645 |
| Rockingham, City of | Rockingham, NC | 1 of 10 | 0.110 ppb | 13,233 |
| Cal/Am Water Company - San Marino | Rosemead, CA | 96 of 625 | 0.107 ppb | 40,804 |
| Pennsylvania American Norristown* | Norristown, PA | 1 of 8 | 0.1000 ppb | 86,700 |
| Pasadena* | Pasadena, CA | 142 of 1,354 | 0.0893 ppb | 165,740 |
| Bethpage WD | Bethpage, NY | 67 of 941 | 0.0871 ppb | 33,000 |
| St Charles* | St. Charles, IL | 1 of 19 | 0.0789 ppb | 33,264 |
| City of San Juan | San Juan, TX | 1 of 12 | 0.0750 ppb | 30,027 |
| Harris County MUD 167 | Houston, TX | 1 of 12 | 0.0750 ppb | 10,999 |
| IL American-granite City* | Belleville, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.0714 ppb | 40,541 |
| East Montgomery Utility District | Clarksville, TN | 1 of 11 | 0.0713 ppb | 16,812 |
| Grafton Waterworks | Grafton, WI | 2 of 145 | 0.0703 ppb | 11,745 |
| Gloucester City W Department | Gloucester City, NJ | 1 of 25 | 0.0680 ppb | 12,460 |
| South Bethany* | Newark, DE | 1 of 16 | 0.0669 ppb | 15,771 |
| McAllen Public Utility | Mcallen, TX | 1 of 15 | 0.0667 ppb | 173,388 |
| City of Livingston | Livingston, TX | 1 of 9 | 0.0667 ppb | 11,692 |
| Assumption Parish Waterworks District 1* | Napoleonville, LA | 2 of 18 | 0.0656 ppb | 22,862 |
| Bladen County Water Dist-West Bladen* | Elizabethtown, NC | 1 of 77 | 0.0649 ppb | 12,014 |
| City of Jacksonville* | Jacksonville, TX | 1 of 34 | 0.0612 ppb | 14,544 |
| Livingston Twp Div of Water | Livingston Twp, NJ | 7 of 141 | 0.0579 ppb | 27,391 |
| City of San Angelo* | San Angelo, TX | 1 of 17 | 0.0529 ppb | 100,450 |
| City of Ridgeland | Ridgeland, MS | 2 of 20 | 0.0517 ppb | 24,047 |
| Lake Monticello | Rockville, VA | 1 of 7 | 0.0514 ppb | 11,675 |
| Harlingen Water Works System* | Harlingen, TX | 1 of 12 | 0.0500 ppb | 85,900 |
| US Army Aviation and Missile Command | Redstone Arsenal, AL | 2 of 13 | 0.0496 ppb | 38,700 |
| Kempner WSC* | Kempner, TX | 1 of 13 | 0.0462 ppb | 19,313 |
| Dover Township Water Sys* | Dover, PA | 2 of 34 | 0.0441 ppb | 21,097 |
| Deep Run Water Corporation | Deep Run, NC | 1 of 28 | 0.0429 ppb | 13,332 |
| Miami* | Miami, OK | 1 of 16 | 0.0400 ppb | 13,704 |
| Fort Smith Water Utilities* | Fort Smith, AR | 1 of 14 | 0.0371 ppb | 86,209 |
| Van Buren Waterworks* | Van Buren, AR | 1 of 14 | 0.0371 ppb | 22,725 |
| Northwest Harris County MUD 5* | Houston, TX | 1 of 19 | 0.0316 ppb | 16,368 |
| Sidney City PWS | Sidney, OH | 1 of 23 | 0.0291 ppb | 21,229 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Carbon tetrachloride, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.