Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Trichloroethylene

Whittier 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

 

155

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

16

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.163 ppb326ND - 0.990 ppb
20150.0903 ppb294ND - 0.770 ppb
2016ND230ND
2017ND290ND
20180.0464 ppb252ND - 0.650 ppb
20190.140 ppb174ND - 0.750 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
2014-01-079588-022-1000ND
2014-02-119588-022-0830ND
2014-03-119588-008-0925ND
2014-03-119588-010-0935ND
2014-03-119588-011-0910ND
2014-03-119588-013-09400.800 ppb
2014-03-119588-022-1100ND
2014-04-099588-022-1000ND
2014-05-209588-022-0830ND
2014-05-289588-003-0900ND
2014-05-289588-009-1000ND
2014-06-109588-022-1000ND
2014-06-119588-008-0910ND
2014-06-119588-010-0920ND
2014-06-119588-011-0950ND
2014-06-119588-013-09300.990 ppb
2014-07-089588-022-0900ND
2014-08-079588-022-1000ND
2014-09-049588-010-0945ND
2014-09-049588-011-0920ND
2014-09-049588-013-10000.780 ppb
2014-09-179588-022-0900ND
2014-09-249588-013-10000.920 ppb
2014-09-249588-013-10500.790 ppb
2014-09-299588-008-1040ND
2014-10-169588-022-0930ND
2014-11-109588-022-0830ND
2014-12-099588-008-0915ND
2014-12-099588-010-0945ND
2014-12-099588-011-0900ND
2014-12-099588-013-09300.930 ppb
2014-12-179588-022-0900ND
2015-01-149588-022-0830ND
2015-02-099588-022-1000ND
2015-03-109588-022-0800ND
2015-03-179588-008-0930ND
2015-03-179588-010-0940ND
2015-03-179588-011-0910ND
2015-03-179588-013-10000.770 ppb
2015-04-159588-022-0820ND
2015-05-069588-022-0830ND
2015-05-199588-009-0800ND
2015-06-109588-008-0950ND
2015-06-109588-010-1010ND
2015-06-109588-011-1000ND
2015-06-109588-013-10200.580 ppb
2015-06-249588-022-0930ND
2015-07-149588-022-0800ND
2015-08-119588-022-0850ND
2015-09-109588-008-0910ND
2015-09-109588-010-0915ND
2015-09-109588-011-0900ND
2015-09-109588-013-09300.640 ppb
2015-09-169588-022-1000ND
2015-10-199588-022-0800ND
2015-11-109588-022-0830ND
2015-12-029588-022-0900ND
2015-12-049588-008-0940ND
2015-12-049588-010-1005ND
2015-12-049588-011-0915ND
2015-12-049588-013-09550.630 ppb
2016-01-139588-022-0930ND
2016-02-099588-022-0800ND
2016-03-089588-022-1117ND
2016-03-229588-008-0940ND
2016-03-229588-010-1010ND
2016-03-229588-011-0945ND
2016-03-229588-013-1000ND
2016-05-119588-009-0845ND
2016-06-149588-008-0920ND
2016-06-149588-010-0925ND
2016-06-149588-011-0930ND
2016-06-149588-013-0940ND
2016-09-139588-010-0910ND
2016-09-139588-011-0900ND
2016-09-139588-013-0935ND
2016-09-209588-022-1000ND
2016-10-109588-022-0905ND
2016-11-049588-008-0915ND
2016-11-049588-010-0925ND
2016-11-049588-013-0925ND
2016-11-219588-022-0942ND
2016-12-069588-022-0830ND
2016-12-089588-011-1130ND
2017-01-249588-022-1236ND
2017-02-149588-022-1040ND
2017-03-089588-008-0905ND
2017-03-089588-010-0910ND
2017-03-089588-011-0855ND
2017-03-089588-013-0955ND
2017-03-139588-022-0945ND
2017-04-119588-022-1038ND
2017-05-019588-022-0845ND
2017-05-099588-009-0842ND
2017-06-069588-022-0730ND
2017-06-149588-008-0910ND
2017-06-149588-010-0905ND
2017-06-149588-011-0955ND
2017-06-149588-013-0920ND
2017-07-179588-022-0820ND
2017-08-159588-022-0740ND
2017-09-129588-008-0910ND
2017-09-129588-010-0900ND
2017-09-129588-011-0855ND
2017-09-129588-013-0925ND
2017-09-189588-022-0822ND
2017-10-169588-022-0811ND
2017-11-069588-022-0750ND
2017-12-059588-022-0807ND
2017-12-119588-008-0940ND
2017-12-119588-010-0945ND
2017-12-119588-011-0930ND
2017-12-119588-013-0955ND
2018-01-229588-022-0752ND
2018-02-209588-022-0953ND
2018-03-139588-008-0910ND
2018-03-139588-010-0905ND
2018-03-139588-011-0855ND
2018-03-139588-013-0925ND
2018-03-199588-022-0815ND
2018-04-099588-022-0928ND
2018-06-139588-008-0905ND
2018-06-139588-009-0955ND
2018-06-139588-010-0915ND
2018-06-139588-011-0855ND
2018-06-139588-013-0940ND
2018-07-109588-022-0900ND
2018-07-239588-022-1130ND
2018-08-079588-022-1000ND
2018-09-189588-010-0940ND
2018-09-189588-011-1015ND
2018-09-189588-013-11150.510 ppb
2018-09-249588-022-0838ND
2018-10-159588-022-0924ND
2018-11-059588-022-0836ND
2018-12-199588-010-0915ND
2018-12-199588-011-0935ND
2018-12-199588-013-10150.650 ppb
2019-03-219588-008-0915ND
2019-03-219588-010-0905ND
2019-03-219588-011-09000.560 ppb
2019-03-219588-013-09350.550 ppb
2019-05-089588-009-0810ND
2019-06-119588-008-0900ND
2019-06-119588-009-0950ND
2019-06-119588-010-0845ND
2019-06-119588-011-0905ND
2019-06-119588-013-09150.520 ppb
2019-09-249588-008-0945ND
2019-09-249588-010-0930ND
2019-09-249588-011-1015ND
2019-09-249588-013-10550.750 ppb
2019-12-189588-010-0830ND
2019-12-189588-011-0840ND
2019-12-189588-013-0855ND