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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Montgomery Water Works

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
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND120ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND90ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND70ND

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
2014-01-27AK67073ND
2014-03-191403-00380-1VND
2014-04-28AK77222ND
2014-06-171406-00205-1VND
2014-08-04AK86531ND
2014-08-04AK86532ND
2014-08-05AK86538ND
2014-08-05AK86536ND
2014-08-05AK86535ND
2014-08-05AK86534ND
2014-08-05AK86533ND
2014-08-05AK86537ND
2015-01-26AL05034ND
2015-05-11AL18547ND
2015-09-01AL32930ND
2015-09-01AL32931ND
2015-09-01AL32932ND
2015-09-01AL32933ND
2015-09-01AL32934ND
2015-09-01AL32935ND
2015-09-01AL32936ND
2015-09-01AL32937ND
2016-04-15AL62693ND
2016-09-15AL84114ND
2016-09-15AL84120ND
2016-09-15AL84119ND
2016-09-15AL84117ND
2016-09-15AL84113ND
2016-09-15AL84118ND
2016-09-15AL84115ND
2016-09-15AL84116ND
2017-05-30AM21750ND
2017-09-12AM37133ND
2017-09-12AM37130ND
2017-09-12AM37132ND
2017-09-12AM37129ND
2017-09-12AM37126ND
2017-09-12AM37127ND
2017-09-12AM37131ND
2017-09-12AM37128ND
2018-04-19AM69663ND
2018-06-05AM77001ND
2018-06-05AM77000ND
2018-06-05AM76999ND
2018-06-06AM77002ND
2018-06-06AM77004ND
2018-06-06AM77006ND
2018-06-06AM77003ND
2018-06-06AM77005ND
2019-07-24AN36651ND
2019-07-24AN36653ND
2019-07-24AN36647ND
2019-07-24AN36648ND
2019-07-24AN36649ND
2019-07-24AN36650ND
2019-07-24AN36652ND