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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

City of Sacramento Main

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

 

85

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND150ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND170ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND170ND
2019ND60ND

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
2014-01-069054-056-1120ND
2014-02-052706-042-1140ND
2014-02-062706-023-1330ND
2014-02-192706-022-1045ND
2014-02-212706-055-1200ND
2014-02-262706-029-1020ND
2014-03-202706-052-1015ND
2014-03-252706-050-1030ND
2014-04-112706-015-0930ND
2014-04-172706-038-1310ND
2014-08-259054-002-0905ND
2014-08-259054-008-0910ND
2014-10-149054-040-0945ND
2014-12-022706-017-1050ND
2014-12-032706-054-1045ND
2015-01-202706-016-0955ND
2015-08-119054-002-1005ND
2015-08-119054-008-1055ND
2015-10-159054-018-1208ND
2015-10-159054-038-0945ND
2015-10-159054-050-1214ND
2015-10-159054-034-1307ND
2015-10-159054-032-1026ND
2015-10-159054-052-1030ND
2015-10-159054-030-1125ND
2015-10-159054-054-1056ND
2015-10-159054-055-1340ND
2015-10-159054-028-1138ND
2015-10-159054-027-1100ND
2015-12-039054-041-1026ND
2016-02-049054-037-0950ND
2016-03-019054-009-1248ND
2016-04-199054-051-1050ND
2016-04-219054-028-1103ND
2016-05-129054-040-1220ND
2016-05-319054-035-1048ND
2016-06-139054-010-1041ND
2016-07-269054-056-1042ND
2016-07-269054-045-1012ND
2016-08-029054-002-1005ND
2016-08-029054-008-1130ND
2016-10-119054-056-1100ND
2016-10-119054-040-1432ND
2016-10-119054-051-1530ND
2016-10-119054-045-1358ND
2016-10-119054-035-1407ND
2016-11-219054-009-1255ND
2017-03-079054-042-1010ND
2017-03-079054-023-1130ND
2017-03-209054-022-1108ND
2017-03-209054-029-1230ND
2017-04-039054-015-1008ND
2017-04-109054-056-1022ND
2017-05-089054-051-1222ND
2017-05-099054-035-1424ND
2017-05-099054-040-1505ND
2017-06-089054-045-1000ND
2017-06-209054-017-1130ND
2017-08-029054-002-1018ND
2017-08-029054-008-1000ND
2017-08-249054-054-1300ND
2017-08-249054-032-0912ND
2018-01-089054-056-1325ND
2018-02-269054-052-1408ND
2018-02-269054-037-1210ND
2018-02-269054-038-1241ND
2018-02-269054-040-1316ND
2018-02-269054-041-1433ND
2018-02-269054-030-1125ND
2018-02-279054-009-1138ND
2018-02-279054-035-1259ND
2018-02-279054-051-1326ND
2018-02-279054-010-1100ND
2018-02-279054-028-1555ND
2018-02-279054-018-1450ND
2018-02-279054-027-1523ND
2018-02-279054-034-1228ND
2018-08-079054-008-1220ND
2018-08-079054-002-0950ND
2019-02-049054-040-1331ND
2019-02-049054-051-1310ND
2019-02-049054-035-1245ND
2019-04-089054-056-1221ND
2019-08-069054-008-1210ND
2019-08-069054-002-0940ND