Vinyl chloride in Tap Water
Vinyl chloride is a volatile organic compound used to make PVC plastic. In water it often appears as a breakdown product of other solvents like TCE and PCE, and can leach from old PVC piping.
Breakdown of chlorinated solvents in groundwater; discharge from plastics factories; leaching from some older PVC pipe.
- 1Solvent (TCE/PCE) degradation
- 2Plastics manufacturing discharge
- 3Legacy PVC piping
Most affected: Anyone on an affected system over the long term.
A result is read with its context
This contaminant is tracked through federal and state compliance monitoring. Because it forms as solvents break down, it often accompanies TCE or PCE detections. PurityMap does not yet publish a per-system measured value for Vinyl chloride; this page is a reference explainer. To learn what is in your own water, check your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or use a certified home test.
- Above reference
- Evidence exceeds a reference level.
- Detected
- This substance was found in the monitoring record. Being present is not the same as being above a reference level, and this signal does not say which.
- Not detected
- Somebody looked and the laboratory reported nothing above its reporting limit. This is a result, and it is not the same as nobody looking.
- Not monitored
- No sampling for this substance has been reported for this system. Nothing is known either way, and an empty row is not a clean one.
No city results or violations published yet
- MeasurementsPendingNo per-system values
PurityMap does not yet publish a measured value for vinyl chloride.
- ViolationsCheckedNone on the federal record
No city in PurityMap’s record has a vinyl chloride violation in EPA SDWIS since 2016.
- CitiesPendingNo detections on record
No city in PurityMap’s record shows vinyl chloride detected.
This fills in as monitoring data is published. Until then, your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report lists its results, or use a certified home test.
What can carry a vinyl chloride reduction claim
- Packed-tower aeration (air stripping)
- Activated carbon (GAC)
Highly porous adsorption media targeting chlorine, disinfection byproducts, volatile organic compounds, and organic chemicals.
- Reverse osmosis
Semi-permeable membrane separation removing dissolved minerals, heavy metals, and persistent fluorinated chemicals down to 0.0001 microns.
Boiling does not remove a dissolved chemical compound and can concentrate it. Many pitcher and refrigerator filters carry no verified claim for a compound like this at all.
A finding establishes the need, the need names the capability, the capability requires a verified certification. No product appears before that sequence completes. Filter Finder →
Frequently asked
Answers cite the same records as the page. How PurityMap analyzes water data
Vinyl chloride is a volatile organic compound used to make PVC plastic. In water it often appears as a breakdown product of other solvents like TCE and PCE, and can leach from old PVC piping.
The enforceable federal limit is 0.002 mg/L / 2 µg/L (MCL). The health-based goal (MCLG) is 0. PurityMap reads every measurement against its stated benchmark and never sets its own.
Solvent (TCE/PCE) degradation, Plastics manufacturing discharge, Legacy PVC piping.
Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen, associated especially with liver cancer, so its health goal is zero and its enforceable limit is among the lowest for VOCs. It is highly volatile and readily enters indoor air from contaminated water.
Treatment technologies commonly certified to reduce Vinyl chloride include Packed-tower aeration (air stripping), Activated carbon (GAC), Reverse osmosis. Match the exact certified claim to your water before buying. Holding a format is not the same as holding the claim.