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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Compton 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

 

98

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

41

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.341 ppb176ND - 1.60 ppb
20150.449 ppb197ND - 1.60 ppb
20160.277 ppb163ND - 1.90 ppb
20170.581 ppb177ND - 2.20 ppb
20181.24 ppb1711ND - 3.90 ppb
20191.08 ppb127ND - 3.20 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
2014-01-139588-028-1118ND
2014-01-139588-011-0956ND
2014-01-139588-013-1042ND
2014-01-139588-014-1020ND
2014-01-139588-019-11050.720 ppb
2014-04-179588-014-1054ND
2014-04-179588-011-1010ND
2014-06-269588-019-11480.850 ppb
2014-07-299588-015-0933ND
2014-07-299588-014-10030.950 ppb
2014-07-299588-019-09460.810 ppb
2014-07-299588-011-0906ND
2014-10-319588-009-0934ND
2014-10-319588-014-10191.60 ppb
2014-10-319588-011-0958ND
2014-11-079588-015-1050ND
2014-11-079588-019-10180.870 ppb
2015-01-299588-011-0959ND
2015-01-299588-028-1127ND
2015-01-299588-009-0944ND
2015-01-299588-019-10141.50 ppb
2015-01-299588-013-1045ND
2015-01-299588-014-11031.10 ppb
2015-04-169588-019-09401.10 ppb
2015-04-169588-014-10551.10 ppb
2015-04-169588-009-1143ND
2015-04-169588-011-1039ND
2015-07-249588-009-1005ND
2015-07-249588-014-13050.530 ppb
2015-07-249588-011-0934ND
2015-07-249588-019-11071.60 ppb
2015-10-229588-011-1028ND
2015-10-229588-009-1112ND
2015-10-229588-014-0951ND
2015-10-229588-015-1010ND
2015-10-229588-019-09381.60 ppb
2016-01-279588-028-1107ND
2016-01-279588-011-0943ND
2016-01-279588-019-10571.60 ppb
2016-01-279588-014-1125ND
2016-01-279588-013-0958ND
2016-04-289588-019-11100.930 ppb
2016-04-289588-014-1120ND
2016-04-289588-011-1030ND
2016-07-159588-011-1057ND
2016-07-159588-019-10481.90 ppb
2016-07-159588-014-1036ND
2016-10-059588-011-1222ND
2016-10-059588-019-1125ND
2016-10-059588-015-1103ND
2016-10-059588-009-1045ND
2016-10-059588-014-1202ND
2017-01-249588-019-10430.640 ppb
2017-01-249588-013-1000ND
2017-01-249588-011-1015ND
2017-01-249588-028-10552.20 ppb
2017-01-249588-014-1110ND
2017-04-269588-019-10351.80 ppb
2017-04-269588-014-1120ND
2017-04-269588-011-1015ND
2017-04-269588-028-11451.10 ppb
2017-07-189588-019-10351.70 ppb
2017-07-189588-011-0950ND
2017-07-189588-028-11000.540 ppb
2017-10-059588-015-1045ND
2017-10-059588-019-10201.90 ppb
2017-10-059588-028-1000ND
2017-10-059588-011-1140ND
2017-12-119588-009-1032ND
2018-01-099588-009-1041ND
2018-01-099588-028-09342.40 ppb
2018-01-099588-013-1049ND
2018-01-099588-019-10011.000 ppb
2018-04-129588-013-1015ND
2018-04-129588-019-11101.10 ppb
2018-04-129588-028-11002.30 ppb
2018-06-289588-014-10150.590 ppb
2018-06-289588-011-1035ND
2018-07-239588-028-10103.40 ppb
2018-07-239588-011-1035ND
2018-07-239588-019-09551.50 ppb
2018-09-279588-014-10140.710 ppb
2018-10-259588-019-11252.30 ppb
2018-10-259588-028-11353.90 ppb
2018-12-199588-015-1130ND
2018-12-199588-014-10001.90 ppb
2019-01-309588-028-10051.10 ppb
2019-01-309588-019-09451.30 ppb
2019-01-309588-014-12052.00 ppb
2019-01-309588-009-1125ND
2019-04-259588-028-09353.20 ppb
2019-04-259588-019-1013ND
2019-07-179588-019-09301.40 ppb
2019-07-179588-028-09402.10 ppb
2019-07-179588-011-1005ND
2019-10-189588-015-1040ND
2019-10-189588-019-10151.90 ppb
2019-11-209588-013-1015ND