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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Cal-am Water Company - Duarte

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

 

69

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
2014ND140ND
2015ND140ND
2016ND150ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND110ND

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
2014-03-109588-004-1140ND
2014-06-231225-003-1110ND
2014-06-231225-010-1330ND
2014-06-231225-007-1040ND
2014-06-231225-009-1135ND
2014-06-231225-002-1300ND
2014-06-231225-008-1235ND
2014-09-039588-003-1215ND
2014-09-039588-002-1055ND
2014-09-039588-007-1240ND
2014-09-039588-008-1120ND
2014-09-039588-010-1225ND
2014-12-039588-009-1100ND
2014-12-039588-019-1020ND
2015-09-089588-008-1120ND
2015-09-089588-010-1110ND
2015-09-089588-002-1200ND
2015-09-089588-007-1215ND
2015-09-089588-003-1140ND
2015-09-281225-007-1200ND
2015-09-281225-003-1050ND
2015-09-281225-008-1330ND
2015-09-281225-010-0945ND
2015-09-281225-009-1345ND
2015-10-141225-019-0945ND
2015-10-141225-002-1205ND
2015-12-079588-009-1130ND
2015-12-079588-019-1040ND
2016-06-201225-019-1115ND
2016-06-201225-010-1135ND
2016-06-201225-008-1145ND
2016-07-201225-002-1110ND
2016-07-201225-009-1030ND
2016-07-201225-003-1000ND
2016-07-201225-007-0930ND
2016-09-079588-002-1330ND
2016-09-079588-003-1305ND
2016-09-079588-007-1245ND
2016-09-079588-008-1345ND
2016-09-079588-010-1315ND
2016-09-121225-019-0850ND
2016-12-059588-019-1105ND
2016-12-059588-009-1135ND
2017-07-251225-009-1210ND
2017-09-209588-010-1210ND
2017-09-209588-008-1125ND
2017-09-209588-002-1150ND
2017-09-209588-007-1100ND
2017-09-289588-003-0905ND
2017-12-059588-019-1000ND
2017-12-059588-009-1030ND
2018-07-101225-009-0940ND
2018-09-209588-010-1325ND
2018-09-209588-008-1240ND
2018-09-209588-002-1300ND
2018-09-209588-007-1215ND
2018-12-189588-009-1150ND
2018-12-189588-019-1055ND
2019-02-069590-022-1230ND
2019-03-199588-003-1135ND
2019-05-139588-022-1310ND
2019-08-079588-007-1145ND
2019-08-079588-022-1325ND
2019-08-079588-019-1115ND
2019-08-079588-002-1250ND
2019-08-079588-008-1220ND
2019-08-079588-009-1210ND
2019-08-079588-010-1305ND
2019-11-199588-022-1040ND