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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Hartland Waterworks

Trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent and common groundwater pollutant, damages the immune system, harms the developing fetus and causes cancer. Read More.

Trichloroethylene was once commonly used to remove grease from metal parts, such as steel pipes and engines, and as a solvent in dry cleaning and carpet cleaning products. Drinking trichloroethylene-contaminated drinking water has been linked with birth defects, leukemia, and liver and kidney damage. Trichloroethylene is highly volatile and can enter indoor air through water in pipes. If trichloroethylene is present, people can inhale it while bathing, washing dishes and doing other household activities that involve water.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

37

Samples

2

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND80ND
2015ND60ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND80ND
20182.76 ppb52ND - 7.30 ppb
2019ND50ND

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 trichloroethylene was defined by the state of Minnesota as health risk limit, the concentration of a contaminant that can be consumed with little or no risk to health. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus and damage to the immune system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for trichloroethylene, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer and harm to the developing fetus.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-222961267ND
2014-02-062968591ND
2014-02-242979690ND
2014-02-262981929ND
2014-02-272982693ND
2014-04-293016371ND
2014-08-123080630ND
2014-10-163124218ND
2015-01-273177035ND
2015-02-043181045ND
2015-02-093183369ND
2015-05-043235031ND
2015-07-093276668ND
2015-10-133339902ND
2016-02-16905565ND
2016-02-18906004ND
2016-05-03919202ND
2016-08-10938579ND
2016-10-12953152ND
2017-02-07972670ND
2017-02-07972673ND
2017-02-13973355ND
2017-02-13973354ND
2017-02-13973351ND
2017-04-18983886ND
2017-08-081009628ND
2017-10-041022697ND
2018-02-081040247ND
2018-02-1510412987.30 ppb
2018-04-241051768ND
2018-08-0610716286.50 ppb
2018-11-281094669ND
2019-03-061108219ND
2019-03-061108213ND
2019-04-301118492ND
2019-08-141141177ND
2019-11-181161413ND