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:
6
states detected
19
utilities detected
4.6 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
Health Guideline 1,300 ppb
The 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 | 5 | 4,156,178 | |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 236,335 | |
| New York | 7 | 198,681 | |
| Missouri | 2 | 10,120 | |
| Georgia | 1 | 806 | |
| Minnesota | 1 | 493 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of trichlorofluoromethane, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuima Municipal Water District Ida | Pauma Valley, CA | 4 of 5 | 40.4 ppb | 400 |
| Tall Oaks Mobile Home Park | Leslie, MO | 2 of 6 | 1.98 ppb | 120 |
| White | White, GA | 1 of 2 | 1.15 ppb | 806 |
| Eureka | Eureka, MO | 2 of 9 | 0.926 ppb | 10,000 |
| Balsam Crest Homeowners Association | Chestertown, NY | 2 of 2 | 0.750 ppb | 50 |
| Garden City | Garden City, NY | 8 of 132 | 0.733 ppb | 25,000 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.350 ppb | 81,760 |
| Altura | Altura, MN | 1 of 2 | 0.300 ppb | 493 |
| Evergreen Homeowners Association | Chestertown, NY | 1 of 3 | 0.267 ppb | 56 |
| Carle Place Water District | Carle Place, NY | 8 of 39 | 0.140 ppb | 9,005 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 7 of 170 | 0.0533 ppb | 47,810 |
| Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 2 of 36 | 0.0475 ppb | 235,000 |
| San Bernardino City* | San Bernardino, CA | 2 of 296 | 0.0378 ppb | 188,931 |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power* | Los Angeles, CA | 6 of 683 | 0.00931 ppb | 3,935,257 |
| Plainview WD | Plainview, NY | 1 of 155 | 0.00710 ppb | 35,000 |
* 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 | 2 of 9 | 0.926 ppb | 10,000 |
| Garden City | Garden City, NY | 8 of 132 | 0.733 ppb | 25,000 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.350 ppb | 81,760 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 7 of 170 | 0.0533 ppb | 47,810 |
| Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 2 of 36 | 0.0475 ppb | 235,000 |
| San Bernardino City* | San Bernardino, CA | 2 of 296 | 0.0378 ppb | 188,931 |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power* | Los Angeles, CA | 6 of 683 | 0.00931 ppb | 3,935,257 |
| Plainview WD | Plainview, NY | 1 of 155 | 0.00710 ppb | 35,000 |
* 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.