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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

City of Tustin

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

 

86

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
2014ND130ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND140ND
2017ND220ND
2018ND150ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-02-254417-008-1050ND
2014-02-254417-017-1115ND
2014-02-254417-011-1000ND
2014-02-254417-012-1025ND
2014-05-284417-032-0945ND
2014-05-284417-011-1040ND
2014-05-284417-013-0830ND
2014-08-134417-013-0850ND
2014-08-134417-011-1045ND
2014-08-134417-016-1030ND
2014-08-134417-003-1015ND
2014-11-134417-011-1130ND
2014-11-134417-013-0945ND
2015-03-114417-008-0940ND
2015-03-114417-012-1045ND
2015-03-114417-016-1015ND
2015-03-114417-017-0925ND
2015-05-134417-011-1040ND
2015-05-134417-032-0955ND
2015-05-134417-013-0840ND
2015-07-274417-022-1030ND
2015-07-274417-009-0940ND
2015-11-184417-022-1110ND
2016-02-244417-022-1035ND
2016-02-244417-017-0840ND
2016-02-244417-003-1110ND
2016-02-244417-016-0930ND
2016-02-244417-011-0950ND
2016-02-244417-008-0855ND
2016-06-024417-003-1035ND
2016-06-024417-013-0955ND
2016-06-024417-032-1015ND
2016-08-174417-022-0950ND
2016-09-134417-009-0905ND
2016-11-294417-009-1025ND
2016-11-294417-022-1045ND
2016-12-074417-036-0910ND
2017-01-314417-017-0950ND
2017-01-314417-008-1020ND
2017-02-064417-036-0850ND
2017-02-064417-009-1025ND
2017-02-064417-003-1000ND
2017-02-064417-011-1110ND
2017-02-064417-022-1130ND
2017-02-064417-016-1050ND
2017-03-064417-012-0935ND
2017-03-274417-012-0945ND
2017-03-274417-012-1000ND
2017-05-114417-022-1005ND
2017-05-114417-009-1030ND
2017-05-114417-013-0830ND
2017-05-114417-012-1105ND
2017-05-314417-036-0840ND
2017-05-314417-032-0935ND
2017-07-274417-036-1140ND
2017-09-074417-022-1140ND
2017-09-074417-009-1115ND
2017-11-294417-022-1020ND
2017-11-294417-009-1000ND
2018-01-304417-022-0915ND
2018-02-134417-011-1010ND
2018-02-134417-016-0940ND
2018-02-224417-009-0930ND
2018-02-224417-003-0900ND
2018-03-084417-012-0850ND
2018-03-214417-008-0910ND
2018-03-214417-017-0850ND
2018-06-054417-036-0920ND
2018-06-054417-032-1000ND
2018-06-054417-012-1030ND
2018-06-074417-011-1010ND
2018-06-074417-013-1040ND
2018-08-064417-011-1145ND
2018-10-304417-011-0935ND
2019-02-194417-003-0955ND
2019-02-194417-011-1030ND
2019-02-194417-022-0930ND
2019-02-194417-009-0905ND
2019-02-214417-012-0835ND
2019-02-214417-016-0850ND
2019-02-214417-013-0910ND
2019-02-254417-036-0940ND
2019-02-254417-032-1000ND
2019-05-234417-011-0845ND
2019-07-154417-011-1120ND
2019-10-284417-011-0925ND