Tetrachloroethylene in U.S. Drinking Water
Health-based violation data for Tetrachloroethylene from EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Covers all community water systems with violations on record.
Tetrachloroethylene has been found in violation of EPA standards in 34 water systems across 11 states, with 203 total health-based violations recorded. The most affected states are West Virginia, Massachusetts, California.
Tetrachloroethylene is regulated under the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act, which sets enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and associated treatment technique requirements for public water systems. The EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) tracks every recorded violation nationwide and links it back to the specific public water system (PWSID), violation type, and begin date.
Across the United States, PlainEnviro's joined extract contains 203 health-based violation records carrying Tetrachloroethylene (EPA code 2987) across 34 active community water systems in 11 states. Raw record counts are highest in West Virginia, Massachusetts, California, with West Virginia accounting for 29 records across 1 system. Health-effect prose is shown only when the official ECHO substance name matches a verified topic; otherwise the portal stays silent rather than inventing guidance.
A health-based violation does not mean residents were necessarily harmed, it means the contaminant exceeded the federal MCL in a compliance sample, triggering notification and remediation requirements. States and utilities maintain primary enforcement responsibility. To check the status of a specific water system, request its most recent Consumer Confidence Report or consult the EPA's Drinking Water Watch portal for the corresponding state.
Violations by State
States ranked by number of health-based violations for Tetrachloroethylene.
| # | State | Violations | Systems Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | 29 | 1 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 14 | 1 |
| 3 | California | 8 | 2 |
| 4 | Nevada | 4 | 1 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 4 | 2 |
| 6 | New York | 4 | 2 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 4 | 1 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 3 | 2 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 3 | 2 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 2 | 1 |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1 | 1 |
Most Affected Water Systems
Top 50 water systems by number of Tetrachloroethylene health-based violations.
| Water System | State | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| PADEN CITY, CITY OF | WV | 29 |
| RUTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT | MA | 14 |
| CAL-WATER SERVICE CO.-CHICO | CA | 4 |
| ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DIST | CA | 4 |
| TOPAZ LAKE WATER CO INC | NV | 4 |
| TRUMBAUERSVILLE MUN WATERWORKS | PA | 4 |
| VEOLIA WATER NJ ALLENDALE WATER SYSTEM | NJ | 3 |
| COUNTRY ESTATES (IN CAIRO) | NY | 3 |
| WALNUT COVE, TOWN OF | NC | 2 |
| CALVIN | OK | 2 |
| FRIENDSHIP DISTRIBUTION WATER SYSTEM | TN | 2 |
| CHEROKEE WATER SYSTEM | NC | 1 |
| AURORA, CITY OF | NE | 1 |
| GARFIELD WATER DEPARTMENT | NJ | 1 |
| PLAINVIEW WD | NY | 1 |
| CHEROKEE | OK | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tetrachloroethylene in my water?
Tetrachloroethylene has been detected in violation of EPA health standards in 34 water systems across 11 states. To check your specific utility, look up your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - water systems are required to disclose all violations.
How many water systems have Tetrachloroethylene violations?
EPA SDWIS records show 34 community water systems with health-based Tetrachloroethylene violations, totaling 203 violations. These represent cases where the contaminant exceeded the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
Which states have the most Tetrachloroethylene violations?
The states with the most Tetrachloroethylene violations are: West Virginia (29 violations), Massachusetts (14 violations), California (8 violations), Nevada (4 violations), New Jersey (4 violations).
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About This Data
Violation data is from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Only health-based violations are shown, these include Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and Treatment Technique (TT) violations. Monitoring and reporting violations are excluded. Data may not reflect the most current enforcement actions.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SDWIS Federal Reporting Services
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.