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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Mountain Water Company

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

 

83

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND110ND
2015ND140ND
2016ND160ND
2017ND170ND
2018ND130ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-09-18B14091884-005CND
2014-09-18B14091884-005BND
2014-09-18B14091884-005AND
2014-10-13B14101125-005CND
2014-10-13B14101125-005BND
2014-10-13B14101125-005AND
2014-10-29B14102506-005AND
2014-10-29B14102506-005BND
2014-10-29B14102506-005CND
2014-12-01B14120125-002AND
2014-12-01B14120125-001AND
2015-02-26B15022051-002CND
2015-02-26B15022051-001CND
2015-09-23B15092184-006DND
2015-09-23B15092184-006CND
2015-09-23B15092184-006BND
2015-09-23B15092184-006AND
2015-10-08B15100826-006AND
2015-10-08B15100826-006BND
2015-10-08B15100826-008AND
2015-10-08B15100826-007AND
2015-11-04B15110444-006DND
2015-11-04B15110444-006CND
2015-11-04B15110444-006BND
2015-11-04B15110444-006AND
2016-05-24B16051932-001BND
2016-08-23B16082328-001BND
2016-09-14B16091275-006BND
2016-09-14B16091275-006AND
2016-09-14B16091275-006CND
2016-09-14B16091275-006DND
2016-09-21B16091896-007DND
2016-09-21B16091896-007CND
2016-09-21B16091896-007BND
2016-09-21B16091896-007AND
2016-09-28B16092451-005CND
2016-09-28B16092451-005BND
2016-09-28B16092451-005AND
2016-10-18B16101448-004AND
2016-10-18B16101448-003AND
2016-10-18B16101448-002AND
2017-03-08H17030158-001FND
2017-03-08H17030156-001FND
2017-03-08H17030154-001FND
2017-09-13B17091233-006AND
2017-09-13B17091233-001BND
2017-10-24B17102253-004DND
2017-10-24B17102253-003DND
2017-10-24B17102253-002DND
2017-10-24B17102253-001DND
2017-11-01B17110168-003CND
2017-11-01B17110168-001CND
2017-11-01B17110168-002CND
2017-11-01B17110168-004DND
2017-11-21B17111863-004CND
2017-11-21B17111863-003CND
2017-11-21B17111863-002CND
2017-11-21B17111863-001CND
2018-05-15B18051514-001FND
2018-05-15B18051508-001FND
2018-05-23B18052237-001GND
2018-06-05B18060423-001GND
2018-06-19B18061823-001FND
2018-07-17B18071604-001GND
2018-07-17B18071571-001GND
2018-07-18B18071799-001GND
2018-07-18B18071741-001GND
2018-07-31B18080102-001BND
2018-09-05B18090421-001AND
2018-09-05B18090419-001AND
2018-09-05B18090357-001GND
2019-05-07B19050690-001BND
2019-05-14B19051387-001GND
2019-05-22B19052006-001FND
2019-06-04B19060314-001GND
2019-06-11B19061058-001FND
2019-06-18B19061773-001FND
2019-07-09B19070912-002AND
2019-07-17B19071738-001GND
2019-07-23B19072150-001FND
2019-08-07B19080745-001GND
2019-08-13B19081351-001GND
2019-08-20B19082022-001GND