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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

San Gabriel County WD

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

 

45

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND60ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND80ND
20180.0738 ppb81ND - 0.590 ppb
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
2014-01-099588-009-0920ND
2014-04-089588-009-0915ND
2014-04-089588-007-0940ND
2014-06-173761-020-1020ND
2014-07-149588-011-0945ND
2014-07-149588-010-0915ND
2014-07-149588-009-0900ND
2014-07-159588-001-1000ND
2014-10-089588-009-0900ND
2014-12-059588-020-0910ND
2015-01-149588-009-0915ND
2015-03-179588-020-1050ND
2015-06-119588-007-0905ND
2015-07-169588-001-0940ND
2015-07-169588-010-1000ND
2015-07-169588-011-1020ND
2016-04-139588-007-0940ND
2016-07-189588-009-0925ND
2016-07-189588-010-0935ND
2016-07-189588-011-0950ND
2016-09-159588-020-0910ND
2016-11-079588-009-1010ND
2017-01-119588-009-0900ND
2017-04-139588-007-0925ND
2017-04-139588-009-0910ND
2017-07-179588-020-1025ND
2017-07-179588-009-0905ND
2017-07-179588-011-0945ND
2017-07-179588-010-0925ND
2017-10-189588-009-0905ND
2018-01-119588-009-0830ND
2018-04-069588-007-0930ND
2018-06-119588-009-0905ND
2018-07-189588-020-1010ND
2018-07-189588-011-1030ND
2018-07-189588-010-1045ND
2018-07-189588-009-1100ND
2018-10-169588-009-09150.590 ppb
2019-01-099588-009-0905ND
2019-04-109588-007-1015ND
2019-04-109588-009-0945ND
2019-07-129588-020-1015ND
2019-07-129588-011-0950ND
2019-07-129588-010-1035ND
2019-07-129588-009-1045ND