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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Norwalk 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

 

67

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

34

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.575 ppb124ND - 2.40 ppb
20150.328 ppb124ND - 1.20 ppb
20160.342 ppb124ND - 1.40 ppb
20171.04 ppb127ND - 2.40 ppb
20182.06 ppb881.10 ppb - 2.70 ppb
20191.27 ppb117ND - 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
2014-02-199588-012-0930ND
2014-02-199588-003-10001.80 ppb
2014-02-199588-002-1030ND
2014-04-299588-012-0950ND
2014-04-299588-003-10182.40 ppb
2014-04-299588-002-1029ND
2014-07-239588-012-0945ND
2014-07-239588-003-10101.90 ppb
2014-07-239588-002-1025ND
2014-12-109588-012-0924ND
2014-12-109588-003-0945ND
2014-12-109588-002-10200.800 ppb
2015-03-259588-003-09400.960 ppb
2015-03-259588-012-0926ND
2015-03-259588-002-0953ND
2015-04-239588-012-0947ND
2015-04-239588-003-10240.780 ppb
2015-04-239588-002-1041ND
2015-07-309588-012-0928ND
2015-07-309588-002-1044ND
2015-07-309588-003-10150.990 ppb
2015-10-289588-003-09451.20 ppb
2015-10-289588-002-1000ND
2015-10-289588-012-0915ND
2016-03-249588-003-10100.730 ppb
2016-03-249588-002-1024ND
2016-03-249588-012-0940ND
2016-06-099588-003-09230.870 ppb
2016-06-099588-002-0945ND
2016-06-099588-012-0909ND
2016-07-209588-002-1015ND
2016-07-209588-003-09451.10 ppb
2016-07-209588-012-0915ND
2016-10-129588-003-09281.40 ppb
2016-10-129588-002-0957ND
2016-10-129588-012-0914ND
2017-01-189588-012-0900ND
2017-01-189588-003-09201.30 ppb
2017-01-189588-002-0935ND
2017-04-179588-002-09301.40 ppb
2017-04-179588-012-0910ND
2017-04-179588-003-09521.70 ppb
2017-07-249588-003-09552.10 ppb
2017-07-249588-012-0923ND
2017-07-249588-002-10282.20 ppb
2017-10-189588-002-09502.40 ppb
2017-10-189588-003-09401.40 ppb
2017-10-189588-012-0914ND
2018-01-249588-002-09402.60 ppb
2018-01-249588-003-09202.20 ppb
2018-04-119588-002-09532.10 ppb
2018-04-119588-003-09302.20 ppb
2018-07-259588-002-10001.40 ppb
2018-07-259588-003-09352.20 ppb
2018-10-269588-002-09401.10 ppb
2018-10-269588-003-09202.70 ppb
2019-01-239588-003-09203.20 ppb
2019-01-239588-002-09501.70 ppb
2019-04-259588-002-10300.770 ppb
2019-04-259588-003-10053.00 ppb
2019-05-249588-012-0920ND
2019-07-259588-012-0930ND
2019-07-259588-002-10351.50 ppb
2019-07-259588-003-10101.80 ppb
2019-10-259588-012-0930ND
2019-10-259588-003-10402.00 ppb
2019-10-259588-002-1000ND