Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

CONTAMINANT

Vinyl chloride

FOUND

Exceeding guidelines

STATES DETECTED

22

serves

324,000

utilities detected

77

states detected

17

serves

107,000

utilities detected

50

Overview

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride. learn more about this contaminant

Exposure to vinyl chloride increases the risk of cancer and can damage the liver and nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.05 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 40 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 2 parts per billion.

Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) are widely used for drinking water distribution lines and internal plumbing, raising concern about vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water. A study published in 2011 by Ryan Walter of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering suggested that small amounts of vinyl chloride can leach from PVC pipes. Vinyl chloride can also form in the pipes as a result of water disinfection with chlorine.

In an assessment completed in 2000, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment stated that drinking water is not a significant source of exposure to vinyl chloride for the general population.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.05 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride 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): 2 ppb

The legal limit for vinyl chloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to vinyl chloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

National Standard Exists

Health Concerns:

  • Liver cancer

  • Harm to the liver

  • Change to the central nervous system

Want to remove
Vinyl chloride from your water?

Try these filter technologies:

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

understand filter technology

Vinyl chloride around the Country

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State Utilities People Served Utilities People Served
Minnesota00253,619
Florida840,0981152,817
Wisconsin111,900649,778
North Carolina175227,550
Iowa1422,9871627,529
Massachusetts00122,325
Alabama00119,965
Michigan1828215,043
New York811,007811,007
Ohio00310,350
Pennsylvania31,18146,985
Mississippi25,27736,291
Illinois25,61525,615
Delaware119035,292
West Virginia14,47514,475
Nebraska31,34051,972
Arkansas147521,657
Indiana11,14911,149
South Dakota12551255
Kansas11011101
New Jersey00170
Arizona165165

Utilities with the highest amounts of vinyl chloride, 2021-2023

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
Utility Location Tests Average level People served
Sunnyhill Water AssociationMccomb, MS1 of 71.35 ppb3,828
Burr OakBurr Oak, MI19 of 340.894 ppb828
Cape Windsor Community Association Inc.Selbyville, DE2 of 50.668 ppb190
Beaverdale Homeowners AssociationWest Burlington, IA1 of 10.600 ppb360
West Burlington Muni. Water Supply*West Burlington, IA1 of 10.600 ppb3,728
Town of WalnutWalnut, MS2 of 20.579 ppb1,449
Avanti Cove AptsMeadville, PA1 of 50.570 ppb16
Salem Water SupplySalem, IA2 of 20.550 ppb396
Hillsboro Water WorksWashington, IA2 of 20.550 ppb163
Mediapolis Water Supply*Mediapolis, IA2 of 20.550 ppb1,688
Rathbun Reg Water Association (burlington)*Centerville, IA2 of 20.550 ppb8,375
Redhill Water AssociationAlma, AR1 of 130.515 ppb475
Pine Tree Mobile Home ParkStamford, NY1 of 10.500 ppb44
Villa MargaretOkeechobee, FL1 of 10.500 ppb132
Soundings Yacht & Tennis ClubHobe Sound, FL1 of 10.500 ppb450
Hialeah GardensHialeah Gardens, FL1 of 10.500 ppb22,200
Brayton Water SystemBrayton, IA1 of 20.450 ppb143
Exira Water DepartmentExira, IA1 of 20.450 ppb787
Portsmouth Water SupplyPanama, IA1 of 20.450 ppb182
Panama Water WorksPanama, IA1 of 20.450 ppb235
Earling Water SupplyEarling, IA1 of 20.450 ppb397
Regional Water*Avoca, IA1 of 20.450 ppb4,250
Minden Water SupplyNeola, IA1 of 20.450 ppb600
Avoca Water WorksAvoca, IA1 of 20.450 ppb1,683
Sugar Creek Manufactured Home Community LLCMilford, IL3 of 180.441 ppb115
Watseka*Watseka, IL3 of 180.441 ppb5,500
Utica, City ofUtica, KS2 of 40.365 ppb101
Springville Mobile VillageBuffalo, NY1 of 20.300 ppb90
Hillcrest Estates, Inc.Zephyrhills, FL1 of 10.290 ppb130
Sulger Water Company 2Sierra Vista, AZ2 of 50.280 ppb65
Willow Haven North Mobile Home ParkMorgantown, PA1 of 30.267 ppb240
Gardeau Water DistrictSilver Springs, NY1 of 20.250 ppb60
Silver Lake Institute - Castile Water District #1Castile, NY1 of 20.250 ppb440
Perry Village*Perry, NY1 of 20.250 ppb4,348
Perry Center Water DistrictPerry, NY1 of 20.250 ppb150
Hoosick FallsHoosick Falls, NY2 of 110.218 ppb4,925
Wilderness PsdMount Nebo, WV1 of 30.200 ppb4,475
Foxburg Area Water & Sewer AuthorityFoxburg, PA1 of 30.200 ppb925
Indian River Shores Mobile Home ParkMicco, FL1 of 10.200 ppb55
Fruitland Mobile Home ParkHendersonville, NC1 of 70.186 ppb75
Cedarburg L & W CommissionCedarburg, WI38 of 860.164 ppb11,900
Iowa Tribe of Ks and NeWhite Cloud, NE2 of 240.130 ppb200
Salem, Village of, NE2 of 240.130 ppb160
Richardson County Rural Water District 2*Falls City, NE2 of 240.130 ppb980
Saint Onge Sewer & Water CompanySpearfish, SD1 of 40.128 ppb255
Angelica Village Public WaterAngelica, NY1 of 40.125 ppb950
Andrews Water DepartmentAndrews, IN8 of 370.121 ppb1,149
Oak Park Trailer Court LLCTitusville, FL1 of 10.120 ppb90
21 Palms Rv ResortDavenport, FL1 of 10.120 ppb200
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL23 of 1870.111 ppb16,841

* 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 Vinyl chloride, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Hialeah GardensHialeah Gardens, FL1 of 10.500 ppb22,200
Cedarburg L & W CommissionCedarburg, WI38 of 860.164 ppb11,900
City of Stuart - Water PlantStuart, FL23 of 1870.111 ppb16,841
NilesNiles, MI5 of 280.0557 ppb14,215
EdinaEdina, MN2 of 130.0354 ppb53,494
Sunrise SouthwestFort Lauderdale, FL1 of 40.0300 ppb10,750
Fitchburg Utility District 1Fitchburg, WI1 of 110.0245 ppb15,000
Grafton WaterworksGrafton, WI6 of 870.0229 ppb11,745
City of KinstonKinston, NC1 of 480.0208 ppb27,475
Wilmington Water DepartmentWilmington, MA1 of 210.0195 ppb22,325
Ozark Utilities BoardOzark, AL1 of 130.00308 ppb19,965

Know the Standards

Understand EWG’s guidelines on contaminants in your water.

view ewg’s standards

Take Action

Interested in supporting other causes? Learn more about our ongoing campaigns and how you can make a difference.

LEARN MORE

Need help finding a filter?

Discover top-rated filters that protect your family from harmful contaminants.

GET THE GUIDE

We’re in this together

Donate today and join the fight to protect our environmental health.

DONATE TODAY

Protect your water

Sign our petition to protect PFAS drinking water standards

TAKE ACTION