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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Reynolds Plantation

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

 

75

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND200ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND250ND
2018ND60ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-10-16AI57747ND
2014-10-16AI57732ND
2014-10-16AI57733ND
2014-10-16AI57734ND
2014-10-16AI57735ND
2014-10-16AI57736ND
2014-10-16AI57737ND
2014-10-16AI57738ND
2014-10-16AI57740ND
2014-10-16AI57741ND
2014-10-16AI57742ND
2014-10-16AI57743ND
2014-10-16AI57744ND
2014-10-16AI57745ND
2014-10-16AI57746ND
2014-10-21AI58017ND
2014-10-21AI58016ND
2014-10-21AI58018ND
2014-10-21AI58019ND
2014-10-21AI58020ND
2015-01-21AI63141ND
2015-01-21AI63140ND
2015-01-21AI63139ND
2015-01-21AI63138ND
2015-01-21AI63137ND
2015-04-22AI75466ND
2015-04-22AI75463ND
2015-04-22AI75464ND
2015-04-22AI75465ND
2015-04-22AI75467ND
2015-07-21AI83636ND
2015-07-21AI83635ND
2015-07-21AI83634ND
2015-07-21AI83633ND
2015-07-21AI83632ND
2016-03-17AJ08373ND
2016-03-17AJ08374ND
2016-03-17AJ08372ND
2016-03-17AJ08371ND
2016-08-02AJ20691ND
2016-12-06AJ35987ND
2017-02-01AJ43827ND
2017-02-01AJ43825ND
2017-02-01AJ43826ND
2017-02-01AJ43828ND
2017-02-01AJ43829ND
2017-02-01AJ43830ND
2017-02-01AJ43831ND
2017-02-01AJ43832ND
2017-02-01AJ43833ND
2017-02-01AJ43835ND
2017-02-01AJ43836ND
2017-02-01AJ43837ND
2017-02-01AJ43838ND
2017-02-01AJ43839ND
2017-02-01AJ43834ND
2017-02-01AJ43840ND
2017-02-01AJ43841ND
2017-02-02AJ45609ND
2017-02-02AJ45608ND
2017-02-02AJ45606ND
2017-03-02AJ47306ND
2017-04-17AJ53340ND
2017-11-13AJ73588ND
2017-11-13AJ73587ND
2017-11-13AJ73586ND
2018-03-01AJ84753ND
2018-03-01AJ84752ND
2018-03-01AJ84751ND
2018-03-01AJ84750ND
2018-03-01AJ84749ND
2018-03-01AJ84748ND
2019-04-23AK15635ND
2019-04-23AK15634ND
2019-07-30AK23890ND