Trichlorofluoromethane
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Trichlorofluoromethane (Freon 11) is a refrigerant, solvent and aerosol propellant banned in 2000 under the Montreal Protocol because of its ozone-depleting properties. Freons can cause heart, nervous system and liver damage.
2015-2017:
11
states detected
36
utilities detected
5.0 million
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for trichlorofluoromethane
Harm to the liver
Change to the central nervous system
Harm to the heart and blood vessels
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 1,300 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 1,300 ppb for trichlorofluoromethane 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 harm to internal organs.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting trichlorofluoromethane in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| California | 10 | 4,458,890 | |
| New York | 9 | 284,571 | |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 235,285 | |
| Maryland | 1 | 13,200 | |
| Missouri | 2 | 10,120 | |
| Ohio | 1 | 6,400 | |
| Washington | 5 | 3,869 | |
| Georgia | 1 | 806 | |
| Virginia | 1 | 530 | |
| Minnesota | 1 | 493 | |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 429 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of trichlorofluoromethane, 2015-2017
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westerner Mobile Home Park | Elk Grove, CA | 1 of 1 | 17.7 ppb | 65 |
| Yuima Municipal Water District Ida | Pauma Valley, CA | 12 of 30 | 16.4 ppb | 400 |
| Tall Oaks Mobile Home Park | Leslie, MO | 13 of 22 | 1.92 ppb | 120 |
| Yak Co. - Crewport | Yakima, WA | 3 of 3 | 1.50 ppb | 192 |
| Drakes Branch, Town of | Drakes Branch, VA | 1 of 1 | 1.10 ppb | 530 |
| Eureka | Eureka, MO | 6 of 28 | 0.939 ppb | 10,000 |
| Garden City | Garden City, NY | 27 of 385 | 0.886 ppb | 46,000 |
| White | White, GA | 3 of 7 | 0.746 ppb | 806 |
| Marshall Community Water Association | Marshall, WA | 2 of 2 | 0.601 ppb | 74 |
| Balsam Crest Homeowners Association | Chestertown, NY | 5 of 6 | 0.583 ppb | 50 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 3 of 3 | 0.450 ppb | 81,760 |
| Wilbur, Town Of | Wilbur, WA | 1 of 3 | 0.400 ppb | 914 |
| Evergreen Homeowners Association | Chestertown, NY | 3 of 9 | 0.344 ppb | 56 |
| Maryland American Water Company* | Bel Air, MD | 1 of 3 | 0.300 ppb | 13,200 |
| Camrosa Water District | Camarillo, CA | 1 of 11 | 0.136 ppb | 30,000 |
| Ladd Center Water System* | North Kingstown, RI | 3 of 15 | 0.135 ppb | 129 |
| Exeter Job Corps Center | Providence, RI | 3 of 15 | 0.135 ppb | 300 |
| Okanogan Water Department, City Of* | Okanogan, WA | 1 of 3 | 0.1000 ppb | 2,539 |
| Progressive Flat Water Association | Tonasket, WA | 1 of 3 | 0.1000 ppb | 150 |
| Jurupa Community Services District* | Jurupa Valley, CA | 1 of 63 | 0.0984 ppb | 106,907 |
| Chino Basin Desalter Authority - Desalter 1* | Ontario, CA | 1 of 109 | 0.0835 ppb | 0 |
| Altura | Altura, MN | 1 of 9 | 0.0667 ppb | 493 |
| Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 8 of 102 | 0.0636 ppb | 235,000 |
| Maple Bluff Waterworks | Madison, WI | 8 of 102 | 0.0636 ppb | 1,342 |
| Danville Drive Service Area | Fitchburg, WI | 8 of 102 | 0.0636 ppb | 150 |
| Rimrock Road Neighborhood | Fitchburg, WI | 8 of 102 | 0.0636 ppb | 135 |
| Shorewood Hills Waterworks | Madison, WI | 8 of 102 | 0.0636 ppb | 1,670 |
| Carle Place Water District | Carle Place, NY | 11 of 122 | 0.0586 ppb | 9,005 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 27 of 682 | 0.0409 ppb | 48,000 |
| Milford City Public Water System | Milford, OH | 1 of 19 | 0.0263 ppb | 6,400 |
| San Bernardino City* | San Bernardino, CA | 3 of 841 | 0.0193 ppb | 188,931 |
| Franklin Square WD | Franklin Square, NY | 1 of 224 | 0.00670 ppb | 20,000 |
| South Farmingdale WD | Farmingdale, NY | 1 of 308 | 0.00315 ppb | 44,700 |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power* | Los Angeles, CA | 6 of 2,060 | 0.00309 ppb | 3,935,257 |
| Los Angeles County Waterworks District 21-kagel Canyon | Alhambra, CA | 6 of 2,060 | 0.00309 ppb | 550 |
| Plainview WD | Plainview, NY | 1 of 563 | 0.00195 ppb | 35,000 |
| Pasadena* | Pasadena, CA | 1 of 1,113 | 0.000979 ppb | 165,740 |
* 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 Trichlorofluoromethane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka | Eureka, MO | 6 of 28 | 0.939 ppb | 10,000 |
| Garden City | Garden City, NY | 27 of 385 | 0.886 ppb | 46,000 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 3 of 3 | 0.450 ppb | 81,760 |
| Maryland American Water Company* | Bel Air, MD | 1 of 3 | 0.300 ppb | 13,200 |
| Camrosa Water District | Camarillo, CA | 1 of 11 | 0.136 ppb | 30,000 |
| Jurupa Community Services District* | Jurupa Valley, CA | 1 of 63 | 0.0984 ppb | 106,907 |
| Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 8 of 102 | 0.0636 ppb | 235,000 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 27 of 682 | 0.0409 ppb | 48,000 |
| San Bernardino City* | San Bernardino, CA | 3 of 841 | 0.0193 ppb | 188,931 |
| Franklin Square WD | Franklin Square, NY | 1 of 224 | 0.00670 ppb | 20,000 |
| South Farmingdale WD | Farmingdale, NY | 1 of 308 | 0.00315 ppb | 44,700 |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power* | Los Angeles, CA | 6 of 2,060 | 0.00309 ppb | 3,935,257 |
| Plainview WD | Plainview, NY | 1 of 563 | 0.00195 ppb | 35,000 |
| Pasadena* | Pasadena, CA | 1 of 1,113 | 0.000979 ppb | 165,740 |
* 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 Trichlorofluoromethane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.