What Tetrachloroethylene is, and why it's regulated
What the EPA limit means
5 µg/L
Maximum Contaminant Level — the enforceable ceiling a supplier must stay under.
0.0 µg/L
Health goal (MCLG) — the level with no known health effect. It is a goal, not a legal limit, and is often zero for carcinogens.
SYR4
Where these measurements come from. Hover the tag for the EPA programme and years.
Where Tetrachloroethylene was found
The water suppliers reporting the highest levels, worst first. For lead and copper that is the 90th-percentile result the action level is written against; for Six-Year Review data, the 95th percentile of each system's samples.
| Supplier | City | State | Level vs EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale-City, Water Dept. | Glendale | CA | 220 µg/L 4400% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Burbank-City, Water Dept. | Burbank | CA | 190 µg/L 3800% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Cal-Water Service Co.-Chico | — | CA | 152 µg/L 3040% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Warminster Municipal Authority | — | PA | 144.035 µg/L 2881% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Cws - Visalia | — | CA | 121.1 µg/L 2422% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| San Gabriel Valley Water Co.-El Monte | El Monte | CA | 110 µg/L 2200% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Valley County Water Dist. | Baldwin Park | CA | 97 µg/L 1940% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Monterey Park-City, Water Dept. | Monterey Park | CA | 78.25 µg/L 1565% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Calif State Polytechnical Univ - Pomona | Pomona | CA | 70 µg/L 1400% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Gswc - Norwalk | — | CA | 55.55 µg/L 1111% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Lukins Brothers Water Company | South Lake Tahoe | CA | 44.8 µg/L 896% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Summerfield Mhp | Knightdale | NC | 44.6 µg/L 892% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Foothills Utilities Kingman East | Kingman | AZ | 40 µg/L 800% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Commerce-City, Water Dept. | Montebello | CA | 31.679 µg/L 634% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| West Lebanon Twp Water Supply | Lebanon | PA | 30.72 µg/L 614% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Friendship Distribution Water System | Friendship | TN | 24.02 µg/L 480% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| California Domestic Water Company | Whittier | CA | 24 µg/L 480% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| El Monte-City, Water Dept. | El Monte | CA | 24 µg/L 480% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Tahoe Keys Water Company | South Lake Tahoe | CA | 21.15 µg/L 423% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Hillcrest Water District | Southeast | NY | 20 µg/L 400% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Roslyn Wd | Roslyn | NY | 19.95 µg/L 399% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power | Los Angeles | CA | 19.6 µg/L 392% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Hicksville Wd | Oyster Bay | NY | 19.4 µg/L 388% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| Talladega Water & Sewer Board, City of | Talladega | AL | 18.105 µg/L 362% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
| New Holland Borough | New Holland | PA | 17.74 µg/L 355% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L |
Frequently asked questions about Tetrachloroethylene
What is Tetrachloroethylene in drinking water?
Tetrachloroethylene is used in dry cleaning and metal degreasing; it is a likely human carcinogen.
What is the EPA limit for Tetrachloroethylene?
The EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level for Tetrachloroethylene is 5 µg/L, and its health goal (MCLG) is 0.0 µg/L. A result above the limit means the supplier must act; the goal is the level at which no health effects are expected.
How common is Tetrachloroethylene in US tap water?
Of the 34,517 water suppliers with results on file, 768 detected Tetrachloroethylene — 2.2% of those tested.