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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

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.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

49

states detected

652

utilities detected

19 million

people served

47

states over health guideline

554

utilities over health guideline

12 million

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for tetrachloroethylene

Lung cancer

Breast cancer

Colon cancer

Harm to the kidney

Harm to the liver

Harm to the central nervous system

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

States reporting tetrachloroethylene in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
California1024,873,9631206,413,139
New York29669,351472,178,064
Texas25,73572,026,285
Pennsylvania521,340,117571,402,362
Arizona11235,041171,029,892
Florida16516,27229848,949
Massachusetts38562,53844685,325
New Jersey8106,51919617,228
Wisconsin35554,93836528,745
Iowa40513,32728507,567
Nevada5342,1865342,186
Delaware26,9185313,391
Idaho7247,8038304,069
Illinois10237,00814297,398
Indiana4115,4167237,606
Alabama450,6767158,487
Tennessee3135,6426153,598
Minnesota6137,2037138,987
Ohio1690,33217116,951
Colorado748,6028112,410
New Mexico396,973396,973
Connecticut684,068684,068
Oregon1068,0101068,010
Missouri1764,4561764,456
Utah561,276561,276
Hawaii358,797358,797
Kansas1047,8431153,160
Georgia947,873947,873
Kentucky745,469745,469
Maryland643,890643,890
New Hampshire836,826836,826
Montana00235,250
North Carolina1930,7252031,312
Nebraska530,379530,379
Oklahoma527,710527,710
West Virginia826,090826,090
Washington725,741725,741
Louisiana323,754323,754
Arkansas521,148521,148
Virginia619,915619,915
South Dakota113,646113,646
Mississippi112,513112,513
Michigan49,26049,260
Alaska14128,416
North Dakota27,93127,931
South Carolina33,78033,780
Vermont19851985
Rhode Island002429
Wyoming23192319
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce tetrachloroethylene

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Activated Carbon

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Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of tetrachloroethylene, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
City Of Industry Waterworks Systems*La Puente, CA96 of 978.85 ppb7,000
Caribou Mobile Park Public Water SystemSan Jose, CA5 of 57.44 ppb180
Lukins Brothers Water CompanySouth Lake Tahoe, CA5 of 96.16 ppb250
Yarmouth Water Department*West Yarmouth, MA3 of 35.67 ppb39,635
West Lebanon Township Water SupplyLebanon, PA15 of 425.18 ppb780
Paden City, City OfPaden City, WV27 of 324.87 ppb2,985
Cdcr-high Desert State PrisonSusanville, CA102 of 1354.83 ppb9,132
Paw HomesiteScranton, PA40 of 404.78 ppb63
Tahoe Keys Water CompanySouth Lake Tahoe, CA90 of 2554.35 ppb1,200
San Juan VistaWalnut Creek, CA5 of 54.20 ppb100
Lynwood Park Mutual Water CompanyCompton, CA107 of 1083.93 ppb2,300
Amarillo Mutual Water CompanyRosemead, CA52 of 523.58 ppb3,134
Commerce-city, Water DepartmentSan Jose, CA105 of 3143.53 ppb3,828
Newport Water WorksNewport, NH7 of 143.46 ppb5,000
Miamisburg City PWSMiamisburg, OH4 of 83.39 ppb20,000
Bellaire Public Water SystemBellaire, OH43 of 723.23 ppb4,278
Higuera ApartmentsSan Luis Obispo, CA1 of 12.70 ppb30
SibleySibley, IL1 of 22.59 ppb272
Sioux Rapids Water DepartmentStorm Lake, IA24 of 252.58 ppb775
New Holland BoroughNew Holland, PA7 of 212.53 ppb5,500
Lynwood Water DepartmentLynwood, CA99 of 1202.38 ppb71,297
Lakeside Mobile Home ParkRoyersford, PA18 of 182.32 ppb48
Holmen WaterworksHolmen, WI24 of 332.19 ppb9,000
City of South PasadenaSouth Pasadena, CA211 of 2142.17 ppb25,899
Pine Grove Water District (wasco)Maupin, OR1 of 32.17 ppb140
Bgwc Cameron AcresGreenville, SC23 of 242.11 ppb70
City of CeresCeres, CA33 of 582.11 ppb42,666
South Pretty Pond Mobile Home ParkZephyrhills, FL6 of 72.07 ppb80
Topaz Lake Water Company Inc.Gardnerville, NV18 of 211.99 ppb40
City of Upland*Upland, CA15 of 341.96 ppb78,791
Graves Co. Water District - ConsumersMayfield, KY5 of 61.88 ppb4,689
Mayfield Electric & Water*Mayfield, KY5 of 61.88 ppb10,024
Graves Co. Water District - HardemanMayfield, KY5 of 61.88 ppb1,129
Wright-Patterson AFB Area A PWSWright Patterson Afb, OH49 of 1991.86 ppb16,551
Quarryville BoroughQuarryville, PA14 of 251.86 ppb3,150
Midvale City Water SystemMidvale, UT40 of 651.85 ppb33,000
Mobile Village Inc.Battle Ground, OR5 of 61.79 ppb100
Security Mobile Home ParkColorado Springs, CO23 of 251.74 ppb150
Tract 180 Mutual Water CompanyCudahy, CA47 of 471.72 ppb14,000
Milford City Public Water SystemMilford, OH12 of 571.72 ppb6,400
Gosnold Water DepartmentGosnold, MA19 of 281.70 ppb425
West Grove Borough*West Grove, PA5 of 81.64 ppb2,873
Aqua Pa Whitehaven EvanwoodWhite Haven, PA6 of 61.62 ppb60
South Orange Water DepartmentSouth Orange, NJ44 of 1631.61 ppb16,964
Pulaski County Public Water Supply District 2Waynesville, MO24 of 331.61 ppb7,840
El Monte Water DepartmentEl Monte, CA255 of 5871.57 ppb22,968
Fairview, City ofFairview, OR8 of 101.55 ppb9,176
Oconto WaterworksOconto, WI5 of 161.52 ppb4,740
Washington Pike PsdWellsburg, WV10 of 141.51 ppb3,571
Wellsburg, City Of*Wellsburg, WV10 of 141.51 ppb3,468

* 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 Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Yarmouth Water Department*West Yarmouth, MA3 of 35.67 ppb39,635
Miamisburg City PWSMiamisburg, OH4 of 83.39 ppb20,000
Lynwood Water DepartmentLynwood, CA99 of 1202.38 ppb71,297
City of South PasadenaSouth Pasadena, CA211 of 2142.17 ppb25,899
City of CeresCeres, CA33 of 582.11 ppb42,666
City of Upland*Upland, CA15 of 341.96 ppb78,791
Mayfield Electric & Water*Mayfield, KY5 of 61.88 ppb10,024
Wright-Patterson AFB Area A PWSWright Patterson Afb, OH49 of 1991.86 ppb16,551
Midvale City Water SystemMidvale, UT40 of 651.85 ppb33,000
Tract 180 Mutual Water CompanyCudahy, CA47 of 471.72 ppb14,000
South Orange Water DepartmentSouth Orange, NJ44 of 1631.61 ppb16,964
El Monte Water DepartmentEl Monte, CA255 of 5871.57 ppb22,968
Medfield Water DepartmentMedfield, MA54 of 1191.46 ppb12,595
Sylacauga Utilities BoardSylacauga, AL22 of 371.32 ppb24,087
Carmichael Water DistrictCarmichael, CA56 of 881.29 ppb40,000
San Gabriel County WD*Rosemead, CA115 of 1311.24 ppb45,000
Whittier Water Department*Whittier, CA317 of 5811.20 ppb49,954
City of Turlock*Turlock, CA23 of 611.19 ppb64,215
City of PortervillePorterville, CA105 of 1951.18 ppb55,107
Emmaus Borough Public Water*Emmaus, PA20 of 1071.16 ppb14,000
City of ChubbuckChubbuck, ID32 of 431.08 ppb14,125
East Pasadena Water CompanyPasadena, CA260 of 7061.07 ppb10,978
Pico WDPico Rivera, CA24 of 451.07 ppb24,100
South Gate Water DepartmentSouth Gate, CA223 of 2531.06 ppb96,057
Norwalk Water DepartmentNorwalk, CA37 of 670.998 ppb18,372
Brookwood Comm. Water SystemHampstead, NC28 of 780.991 ppb15,665
Forrest City Waterworks*Forrest City, AR24 of 580.952 ppb15,425
California American Water Company - Lincoln OaksSacramento, CA151 of 3310.943 ppb46,606
Sun Prairie UtilitiesSun Prairie, WI35 of 480.906 ppb32,613
Jones County*Gray, GA10 of 170.867 ppb11,130
North Salt Lake City Water SystemNorth Salt Lake, UT36 of 520.867 ppb16,301
Del CityDel City, OK24 of 430.858 ppb22,128
City of OakdaleOakdale, CA5 of 230.848 ppb19,250
Madison Water Utility*Madison, WI137 of 2150.835 ppb235,000
Pomona Water DepartmentPomona, CA548 of 1,4080.835 ppb151,713
Waterloo Water Works*Waterloo, IA7 of 170.806 ppb70,070
East Orange Water Commission*East Orange, NJ266 of 3650.805 ppb75,000
CTWC - Unionville System*Clinton, CT25 of 580.690 ppb14,693
City of ReedleyReedley, CA3 of 90.653 ppb24,842
Logansport Municipal Utility-Well FieldLogansport, IN4 of 60.650 ppb18,369
Valley Water Systems, Inc.Plainville, CT8 of 560.650 ppb18,231
Woods Cross City Water SystemWoods Cross, UT26 of 640.628 ppb11,300
Grafton WaterworksGrafton, WI58 of 1490.624 ppb11,745
Garfield Water DepartmentGarfield, NJ36 of 830.608 ppb30,487
Whitman Water System*Whitman, MA7 of 100.600 ppb14,574
South ElginSouth Elgin, IL17 of 390.574 ppb22,549
City of McPherson*Mcpherson, KS5 of 90.564 ppb13,077
Peabody Water Department (MWRA)Peabody, MA2 of 180.561 ppb52,474
North Park PWD*Machesney Park, IL29 of 460.561 ppb35,518
San Fernando Water DepartmentSan Fernando, CA26 of 350.557 ppb23,839

* 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 Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.