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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Golden State Water Company - West Orange

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

 

118

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

13

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND150ND
2015ND260ND
2016ND150ND
20170.158 ppb195ND - 0.700 ppb
20180.114 ppb224ND - 0.700 ppb
20190.119 ppb214ND - 0.700 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
2014-02-034417-055-0820ND
2014-02-114417-017-1135ND
2014-02-134417-018-0930ND
2014-02-134417-019-0815ND
2014-02-134417-029-0840ND
2014-03-044417-024-0855ND
2014-03-044417-025-0925ND
2014-03-194417-007-1040ND
2014-03-194417-010-1105ND
2014-03-194417-014-0830ND
2014-03-194417-016-0845ND
2014-05-094417-018-0810ND
2014-05-094417-018-0825ND
2014-05-214417-023-1010ND
2014-07-304417-021-1100ND
2015-02-034417-010-1035ND
2015-02-034417-014-1345ND
2015-02-034417-016-1315ND
2015-02-034417-018-1130ND
2015-02-034417-019-1200ND
2015-02-044417-021-0925ND
2015-02-044417-023-1110ND
2015-02-044417-024-0900ND
2015-02-044417-025-0955ND
2015-02-044417-029-1010ND
2015-02-054417-055-1040ND
2015-02-124417-007-1010ND
2015-02-124417-017-1115ND
2015-03-024417-021-1020ND
2015-03-024417-021-1035ND
2015-05-124417-018-1205ND
2015-05-124417-019-1145ND
2015-05-124417-023-0945ND
2015-05-124417-025-1005ND
2015-05-274417-021-0900ND
2015-08-054417-018-1025ND
2015-08-054417-019-1350ND
2015-08-054417-025-1220ND
2015-11-094417-018-1025ND
2015-11-094417-019-0950ND
2015-11-094417-025-0920ND
2016-02-094417-010-0955ND
2016-02-094417-016-0845ND
2016-02-174417-017-0910ND
2016-02-174417-019-1045ND
2016-02-174417-024-0940ND
2016-02-174417-029-1025ND
2016-03-174417-007-0830ND
2016-04-194417-014-1115ND
2016-05-164417-018-0825ND
2016-05-164417-019-1000ND
2016-05-164417-023-0935ND
2016-06-144417-021-1220ND
2016-07-134417-010-0850ND
2016-08-014417-019-0945ND
2016-11-034417-019-1005ND
2017-02-084417-017-0840ND
2017-02-084417-018-0815ND
2017-02-084417-019-09500.500 ppb
2017-02-084417-024-0910ND
2017-02-084417-029-0930ND
2017-02-134417-010-0820ND
2017-02-134417-014-1100ND
2017-02-134417-016-0905ND
2017-03-154417-019-0920ND
2017-03-154417-019-09350.500 ppb
2017-03-204417-007-0850ND
2017-05-104417-018-1130ND
2017-05-104417-019-0940ND
2017-05-104417-021-1150ND
2017-05-104417-023-0910ND
2017-07-114417-010-0740ND
2017-08-084417-019-09100.600 ppb
2017-12-064417-019-13450.700 ppb
2017-12-064417-019-14000.700 ppb
2018-02-124417-007-0825ND
2018-02-124417-010-0805ND
2018-02-124417-014-0915ND
2018-02-124417-016-0940ND
2018-02-124417-017-1150ND
2018-02-124417-018-1135ND
2018-02-124417-019-10050.600 ppb
2018-02-124417-024-1115ND
2018-02-124417-029-1030ND
2018-05-104417-019-13050.700 ppb
2018-05-104417-021-1330ND
2018-05-104417-024-1350ND
2018-05-214417-010-0810ND
2018-05-214417-018-1035ND
2018-06-064417-023-0955ND
2018-07-264417-018-0810ND
2018-07-264417-019-09100.600 ppb
2018-07-264417-023-0950ND
2018-07-264417-024-0840ND
2018-10-094417-018-0835ND
2018-10-094417-019-10050.600 ppb
2018-10-094417-024-0920ND
2019-02-144417-010-1055ND
2019-02-144417-018-0940ND
2019-02-144417-019-10000.600 ppb
2019-02-144417-023-1025ND
2019-02-144417-024-0920ND
2019-03-044417-016-0920ND
2019-03-074417-014-1110ND
2019-03-184417-029-0910ND
2019-04-304417-017-0835ND
2019-04-304417-018-0825ND
2019-04-304417-019-10100.600 ppb
2019-04-304417-021-0915ND
2019-04-304417-024-0900ND
2019-05-064417-007-0825ND
2019-07-094417-010-0730ND
2019-07-244417-018-0825ND
2019-07-244417-019-10050.600 ppb
2019-07-244417-024-0940ND
2019-10-214417-018-0915ND
2019-10-214417-019-10300.700 ppb
2019-10-214417-024-1005ND