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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Paw Penn District

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

 

56

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND110ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND90ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND100ND

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
2014-01-0824408301ND
2014-01-0824408001ND
2014-01-0824410701ND
2014-01-0824410601ND
2014-01-0824409501ND
2014-01-0824410501ND
2014-01-0824410201ND
2014-01-0824410401ND
2014-04-0125339001ND
2014-07-0726114501ND
2014-10-0127103201ND
2015-01-0212315849ND
2015-01-0212315891ND
2015-01-0212315870ND
2015-01-0212315828ND
2015-01-0212315807ND
2015-04-0312660735ND
2015-07-0913043473ND
2015-10-0113419776ND
2016-01-0613783286ND
2016-01-0613783265ND
2016-01-0613783244ND
2016-01-0613783202ND
2016-01-0613783223ND
2016-04-0414139336ND
2016-04-1814139358ND
2016-07-1314610393ND
2016-10-0315112463ND
2017-01-0415551726ND
2017-01-0415551747ND
2017-01-0415551705ND
2017-01-0415551768ND
2017-01-0415551673ND
2017-01-0415551789ND
2017-01-0415551652ND
2017-04-0515975971ND
2017-07-0616450386ND
2017-10-1116915040ND
2018-01-1138161501ND
2018-01-1138161401ND
2018-01-1138161301ND
2018-01-1138161201ND
2018-01-1138161101ND
2018-04-1139072601ND
2018-07-1640207301ND
2018-10-1741961701ND
2019-01-0942499301ND
2019-01-0942499401ND
2019-01-0942499501ND
2019-01-0942499201ND
2019-01-0942499601ND
2019-04-0143658101ND
2019-07-0845016101ND
2019-07-1545716201ND
2019-10-0746831501ND
2019-10-3143999801ND