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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

City of Tempe

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

93

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

4

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.127 ppb203ND - 1.02 ppb
2015ND60ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND230ND
20180.0314 ppb211ND - 0.660 ppb
2019ND170ND

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
2014-01-021401002-01VND
2014-01-281401146-01V0.700 ppb
2014-01-281401144-01VND
2014-01-281401143-01VND
2014-01-281401142-01VND
2014-01-291401148-01VND
2014-01-291401147-01VND
2014-01-291401145-01VND
2014-01-291401141-01VND
2014-03-241403189-01VND
2014-04-281404215-01VND
2014-04-291404206-01VND
2014-04-301404216-01VND
2014-07-291407258-01VND
2014-07-291407256-01V0.810 ppb
2014-07-301407280-01VND
2014-07-301407276-01VND
2014-11-121412030-01V1.02 ppb
2014-11-121411119-01VND
2014-11-121411118-01VND
2015-01-091501079-01VND
2015-02-25150222701VND
2015-03-041503035-01VND
2015-05-071505087-01VND
2015-07-081507067-01VND
2015-10-051510034-01VND
2016-01-131601108-01VND
2016-01-261601221-01VND
2016-02-171602117-01VND
2016-04-081604073-01VND
2016-07-071607047-01VND
2016-10-031610016-01VND
2017-01-031701015-01VND
2017-01-031701007-01VND
2017-01-171701113-01VND
2017-01-171701112-01VND
2017-01-181701115-01VND
2017-01-181701114-01VND
2017-01-191701117-01VND
2017-01-261701120-01VND
2017-01-261701119-01VND
2017-01-311701253-01VND
2017-01-311701252-01VND
2017-03-23201703230333VND
2017-04-037040337-01VOCND
2017-05-047050711-01ND
2017-05-047050712-01ND
2017-08-281708300-01VND
2017-08-291708311-01VND
2017-08-301708317-01VND
2017-09-071709042-01VND
2017-10-021710019-01VND
2017-10-031710038-01VND
2017-10-111710157-01VND
2017-10-111710156-01VND
2018-01-021801001-001BND
2018-01-031801014-001BND
2018-01-031801015-001BND
2018-01-171801103-01BND
2018-01-171801102-001BND
2018-01-171801101-001BND
2018-01-181801115-001B0.660 ppb
2018-01-181801114-001BND
2018-01-231801143-001BND
2018-01-241801151-001BND
2018-02-051802024-001BND
2018-02-051802023-001BND
2018-02-061802032-001BND
2018-02-131802083-001BND
2018-03-061803023-001BND
2018-04-101804109-001BND
2018-04-111804131-001BND
2018-04-111804123-001BND
2018-07-091807047-001BND
2018-07-311807285-001BND
2018-10-011810011-001BND
2019-01-021901015-001 VOCND
2019-01-021901007-001 VOCND
2019-01-021901005-001 VOCND
2019-01-021901004-001 VOCND
2019-01-031901026-001 VOCND
2019-01-031901021-001 VOCND
2019-01-031901024-001 VOCND
2019-01-031901025-001 VOCND
2019-01-071901045-001 VOCND
2019-01-081901054-001 VOCND
2019-03-131903102-001 VOCND
2019-03-291903192-001 VOCND
2019-03-301903194-001 VOCND
2019-04-021904016-001ND
2019-04-111904119-001ND
2019-07-011907004-001ND
2019-10-011910010-001ND