Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Trichloroethylene

Commerce-city, Water Department

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

 

99

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND180ND
2015ND170ND
2016ND160ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND150ND
20190.0417 ppb181ND - 0.750 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 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
2014-01-075701-014-1045ND
2014-02-035701-014-1027ND
2014-02-209590-014-1250ND
2014-03-045701-014-1508ND
2014-03-185701-008-0918ND
2014-04-015701-014-1352ND
2014-05-065701-014-0918ND
2014-06-025701-014-1150ND
2014-06-235701-008-1524ND
2014-07-225701-014-1425ND
2014-08-125810-014-0848ND
2014-09-035701-014-1430ND
2014-09-165701-008-1335ND
2014-10-065701-014-1042ND
2014-11-045701-014-0842ND
2014-11-149590-014-1410ND
2014-12-015701-014-1004ND
2014-12-155701-008-0912ND
2015-01-075701-014-0900ND
2015-02-045701-014-1456ND
2015-03-025701-014-1004ND
2015-03-165701-008-1415ND
2015-04-065701-014-1624ND
2015-05-119590-014-0915ND
2015-06-025701-014-1141ND
2015-06-175701-008-1533ND
2015-07-085701-014-1356ND
2015-08-055701-014-1553ND
2015-09-025701-014-1537ND
2015-09-165701-008-1515ND
2015-10-145701-014-1345ND
2015-11-035701-014-0931ND
2015-12-085701-014-0905ND
2015-12-149590-014-1530ND
2015-12-225701-008-0951ND
2016-01-055701-014-1230ND
2016-02-025701-014-0918ND
2016-03-085701-014-0907ND
2016-03-225701-008-0944ND
2016-04-065701-014-1432ND
2016-05-035701-014-0859ND
2016-06-075701-014-1421ND
2016-06-205701-008-1038ND
2016-07-065701-014-1506ND
2016-08-085701-014-1356ND
2016-09-075701-014-1511ND
2016-09-275701-008-0951ND
2016-10-055701-014-1523ND
2016-11-085701-014-1145ND
2016-12-065701-014-0926ND
2016-12-135701-008-1046ND
2017-01-045701-014-1539ND
2017-02-089590-014-1337ND
2017-03-085701-014-1553ND
2017-03-145701-008-0937ND
2017-04-055701-014-1503ND
2017-04-269590-014-1405ND
2017-05-025701-014-0937ND
2017-06-205701-008-0925ND
2017-09-019590-014-1125ND
2017-09-075701-014-1035ND
2017-09-195701-008-0925ND
2017-10-035701-014-1512ND
2017-11-065701-014-1009ND
2017-12-055701-014-0850ND
2017-12-125701-008-0913ND
2018-01-055701-014-1248ND
2018-02-065701-014-0953ND
2018-03-065701-014-0849ND
2018-03-205701-008-0919ND
2018-04-035810-014-0911ND
2018-05-095701-014-0840ND
2018-06-195701-008-0906ND
2018-07-025810-014-0957ND
2018-08-075701-014-0954ND
2018-09-055810-014-1547ND
2018-09-255701-008-0939ND
2018-10-025701-014-0920ND
2018-11-065701-014-0906ND
2018-12-045810-014-0924ND
2018-12-185810-008-1030ND
2019-01-085810-014-1003ND
2019-02-055701-014-1012ND
2019-03-055810-014-12000.750 ppb
2019-03-185701-008-0938ND
2019-04-099590-014-1420ND
2019-04-159590-014-1509ND
2019-04-225701-014-1145ND
2019-05-075810-014-0914ND
2019-06-045701-014-1043ND
2019-06-185701-008-0949ND
2019-07-095701-014-0912ND
2019-08-065701-014-0910ND
2019-09-105701-014-0857ND
2019-09-175701-008-0948ND
2019-10-015701-014-0900ND
2019-11-055701-014-1457ND
2019-12-035701-014-0943ND
2019-12-175701-008-1003ND