Chloroform

South Island PSD

Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Chloroform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Read More.

In addition to tap water disinfection, chloroform pollution in the environment also comes from industrial discharges from pulp and paper mills, and from urban wastewater effluent. Human studies show that chloroform damages the kidneys, liver and central nervous system. In animals, chloroform causes infertility, birth defects and cancer.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	0.390 ppb	16	3	ND - 2.26 ppb
2015	0.341 ppb	12	2	ND - 2.98 ppb
2016	0.247 ppb	16	2	ND - 2.74 ppb
2017	0.430 ppb	16	4	ND - 2.31 ppb
2018	0.587 ppb	16	5	ND - 3.01 ppb
2019	0.216 ppb	16	2	ND - 1.98 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for chloroform was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2014-02-19	2140220-7	ND
2014-02-19	2140220-10	ND
2014-02-19	2140220-9	ND
2014-02-19	2140220-8	ND
2014-05-13	2140514-10	ND
2014-05-13	2140514-7	ND
2014-05-13	2140514-8	ND
2014-05-13	2140514-9	ND
2014-08-12	2140813-10	1.76 ppb
2014-08-12	2140813-7	2.22 ppb
2014-08-12	2140813-8	ND
2014-08-12	2140813-9	ND
2014-11-17	2141118-8	ND
2014-11-17	2141118-9	ND
2014-11-17	2141118-7	ND
2014-11-17	2141118-10	2.26 ppb
2015-05-13	2150514-17	ND
2015-05-13	2150514-18	ND
2015-05-13	2150514-19	ND
2015-05-13	2150514-20	1.11 ppb
2015-08-19	2150820-11	ND
2015-08-19	2150820-12	ND
2015-08-19	2150820-13	ND
2015-08-19	2150820-14	ND
2015-11-17	2151118-10	ND
2015-11-17	2151118-9	ND
2015-11-17	2151118-7	2.98 ppb
2015-11-17	2151118-8	ND
2016-02-16	2160217-14	ND
2016-02-16	2160217-13	ND
2016-02-16	2160217-15	ND
2016-02-16	2160217-16	ND
2016-05-18	2160519-8	ND
2016-05-18	2160519-7	ND
2016-05-18	2160519-9	ND
2016-05-18	2160519-10	ND
2016-08-16	2160818-22	ND
2016-08-16	2160818-24	ND
2016-08-16	2160818-23	ND
2016-08-16	2160818-21	2.74 ppb
2016-12-12	2161214-07	1.21 ppb
2016-12-12	2161214-09	ND
2016-12-12	2161214-08	ND
2016-12-12	2161214-10	ND
2017-02-16	2170217-10	ND
2017-02-16	2170217-09	ND
2017-02-16	2170217-08	ND
2017-02-16	2170217-07	ND
2017-05-17	2170519-25	ND
2017-05-17	2170519-26	1.46 ppb
2017-05-17	2170519-27	ND
2017-05-17	2170519-28	1.61 ppb
2017-08-14	2170815-20	ND
2017-08-14	2170815-19	ND
2017-08-14	2170815-18	1.50 ppb
2017-08-14	2170815-17	ND
2017-11-16	2171117-37	ND
2017-11-16	2171117-38	2.31 ppb
2017-11-16	2171117-39	ND
2017-11-16	2171117-40	ND
2018-02-15	2180216-10	ND
2018-02-15	2180216-09	ND
2018-02-15	2180216-08	ND
2018-02-15	2180216-07	ND
2018-05-16	2180517-26	ND
2018-05-16	2180517-23	ND
2018-05-16	2180517-24	1.78 ppb
2018-05-16	2180517-25	ND
2018-08-17	2180821-38	1.06 ppb
2018-08-17	2180821-37	ND
2018-08-17	2180821-36	2.15 ppb
2018-08-17	2180821-35	1.40 ppb
2018-11-14	2181115-07	ND
2018-11-14	2181115-08	3.01 ppb
2018-11-14	2181115-09	ND
2018-11-14	2181115-10	ND
2019-02-22	2190226-07	ND
2019-02-22	2190226-08	ND
2019-02-22	2190226-09	ND
2019-02-22	2190226-10	ND
2019-05-14	2190516-13	ND
2019-05-14	2190516-16	ND
2019-05-14	2190516-15	ND
2019-05-14	2190516-14	ND
2019-08-13	2190815-28	1.98 ppb
2019-08-13	2190815-30	ND
2019-08-13	2190815-29	ND
2019-08-13	2190815-27	ND
2019-11-13	2191115-14	ND
2019-11-13	2191115-13	ND
2019-11-13	2191115-12	1.48 ppb
2019-11-13	2191115-11	ND