Chloroform

City of Santa Barbara Water Department

Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Chloroform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Read More.

In addition to tap water disinfection, chloroform pollution in the environment also comes from industrial discharges from pulp and paper mills, and from urban wastewater effluent. Human studies show that chloroform damages the kidneys, liver and central nervous system. In animals, chloroform causes infertility, birth defects and cancer.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

250

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

205

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	15.6 ppb	38	34	ND - 29.3 ppb
2015	8.66 ppb	36	33	ND - 18.0 ppb
2016	4.46 ppb	42	35	ND - 12.0 ppb
2017	11.9 ppb	44	39	ND - 30.0 ppb
2018	10.5 ppb	44	33	ND - 30.0 ppb
2019	10.1 ppb	46	31	ND - 24.0 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 chloroform was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2014-01-14	5867-004-0911	1.20 ppb
2014-01-14	5867-054-0924	2.90 ppb
2014-02-03	5867-044-1143	18.6 ppb
2014-02-03	5867-045-1006	5.20 ppb
2014-02-03	5867-046-1044	14.8 ppb
2014-02-03	5867-047-1117	17.6 ppb
2014-02-03	5867-048-1202	13.7 ppb
2014-02-03	5867-049-1023	15.4 ppb
2014-02-03	5867-050-1304	11.7 ppb
2014-02-03	5867-051-1230	17.8 ppb
2014-05-05	5867-044-1158	27.1 ppb
2014-05-05	5867-045-0912	7.00 ppb
2014-05-05	5867-046-0956	23.5 ppb
2014-05-05	5867-047-1022	21.2 ppb
2014-05-05	5867-048-1217	18.1 ppb
2014-05-05	5867-049-0932	18.6 ppb
2014-05-05	5867-050-0820	16.9 ppb
2014-05-05	5867-051-0847	15.3 ppb
2014-08-04	5867-044-0941	29.3 ppb
2014-08-04	5867-045-0818	12.2 ppb
2014-08-04	5867-046-0857	28.5 ppb
2014-08-04	5867-047-0921	28.6 ppb
2014-08-04	5867-048-0956	28.3 ppb
2014-08-04	5867-049-0836	24.2 ppb
2014-08-04	5867-050-1043	24.1 ppb
2014-08-04	5867-051-0759	19.6 ppb
2014-10-21	9590-015-0843	ND
2014-10-21	9590-035-0931	ND
2014-10-21	9590-042-0758	ND
2014-10-22	9590-004-1014	ND
2014-11-04	5867-044-1052	25.1 ppb
2014-11-04	5867-045-0844	7.00 ppb
2014-11-04	5867-046-1001	15.2 ppb
2014-11-04	5867-047-1026	19.4 ppb
2014-11-04	5867-048-1110	20.4 ppb
2014-11-04	5867-049-0940	20.2 ppb
2014-11-04	5867-050-0914	8.90 ppb
2014-11-04	5867-051-0818	13.9 ppb
2015-02-02	5867-044-0924	16.0 ppb
2015-02-02	5867-045-0947	2.90 ppb
2015-02-02	5867-046-1010	8.60 ppb
2015-02-02	5867-047-1043	10.9 ppb
2015-02-02	5867-048-1058	11.6 ppb
2015-02-02	5867-049-1150	9.20 ppb
2015-02-02	5867-050-0906	5.10 ppb
2015-02-02	5867-051-1129	5.90 ppb
2015-05-04	9590-044-1107	18.0 ppb
2015-05-04	9590-045-0945	7.70 ppb
2015-05-04	9590-046-1025	9.00 ppb
2015-05-04	9590-047-1049	8.90 ppb
2015-05-04	9590-048-1121	11.0 ppb
2015-05-04	9590-049-1006	8.90 ppb
2015-05-04	9590-050-1210	5.70 ppb
2015-05-04	9590-051-1148	7.90 ppb
2015-05-12	9590-055-0842	ND
2015-08-03	9590-044-0745	11.0 ppb
2015-08-03	9590-045-0940	9.10 ppb
2015-08-03	9590-046-0912	11.0 ppb
2015-08-03	9590-047-0852	15.0 ppb
2015-08-03	9590-048-0810	12.0 ppb
2015-08-03	9590-049-0830	11.0 ppb
2015-08-03	9590-050-1010	8.00 ppb
2015-08-03	9590-051-1033	7.20 ppb
2015-10-21	9590-004-0947	ND
2015-10-21	9590-054-1002	1.80 ppb
2015-11-02	9590-044-1055	12.0 ppb
2015-11-02	9590-045-1158	1.40 ppb
2015-11-02	9590-046-1005	13.0 ppb
2015-11-02	9590-047-1029	13.0 ppb
2015-11-02	9590-048-1108	14.0 ppb
2015-11-02	9590-049-0946	12.0 ppb
2015-11-02	9590-050-0858	8.80 ppb
2015-11-02	9590-051-1137	4.20 ppb
2015-11-10	9590-005-1050	ND
2016-01-12	9590-004-0856	ND
2016-01-12	9590-054-0910	1.20 ppb
2016-02-01	9590-044-1126	7.40 ppb
2016-02-01	9590-045-1008	1.90 ppb
2016-02-01	9590-046-1048	6.50 ppb
2016-02-01	9590-047-1105	8.00 ppb
2016-02-01	9590-048-1141	6.60 ppb
2016-02-01	9590-049-1026	5.10 ppb
2016-02-01	9590-050-1227	2.90 ppb
2016-02-01	9590-051-1250	3.70 ppb
2016-04-06	9590-004-0828	ND
2016-04-06	9590-054-0846	1.20 ppb
2016-05-02	9590-044-1201	7.50 ppb
2016-05-02	9590-045-1031	ND
2016-05-02	9590-046-1111	5.20 ppb
2016-05-02	9590-047-1136	6.70 ppb
2016-05-02	9590-048-1213	5.50 ppb
2016-05-02	9590-049-1051	5.10 ppb
2016-05-02	9590-050-1255	3.80 ppb
2016-05-02	9590-051-1005	2.80 ppb
2016-07-12	9590-004-0835	ND
2016-07-12	9590-054-0845	2.40 ppb
2016-08-01	9590-044-1021	11.0 ppb
2016-08-01	9590-045-1055	6.30 ppb
2016-08-01	9590-046-0932	12.0 ppb
2016-08-01	9590-047-0956	12.0 ppb
2016-08-01	9590-048-1034	12.0 ppb
2016-08-01	9590-049-0913	11.0 ppb
2016-08-01	9590-050-1118	6.40 ppb
2016-08-01	9590-051-1143	6.50 ppb
2016-10-12	9590-004-1023	ND
2016-10-12	9590-054-1120	1.40 ppb
2016-11-02	9590-031-1120	ND
2016-11-02	9590-053-1152	ND
2016-11-07	9590-044-1202	3.70 ppb
2016-11-07	9590-045-1240	3.10 ppb
2016-11-07	9590-046-1119	3.00 ppb
2016-11-07	9590-047-1142	3.20 ppb
2016-11-07	9590-048-1218	4.20 ppb
2016-11-07	9590-049-0926	3.40 ppb
2016-11-07	9590-050-1307	3.70 ppb
2016-11-07	9590-051-0906	1.000 ppb
2017-01-11	9590-004-1034	ND
2017-01-11	9590-054-1043	1.50 ppb
2017-02-06	9590-044-0947	2.60 ppb
2017-02-06	9590-045-1057	1.20 ppb
2017-02-06	9590-046-0844	1.90 ppb
2017-02-06	9590-047-0923	2.20 ppb
2017-02-06	9590-048-1034	2.40 ppb
2017-02-06	9590-049-0818	2.20 ppb
2017-02-06	9590-050-1123	2.00 ppb
2017-02-06	9590-051-1013	1.30 ppb
2017-04-05	9590-004-0946	1.40 ppb
2017-04-05	9590-054-0956	6.70 ppb
2017-05-01	9590-044-1239	26.0 ppb
2017-05-01	9590-045-1014	14.0 ppb
2017-05-01	9590-046-1127	22.0 ppb
2017-05-01	9590-047-1202	21.0 ppb
2017-05-01	9590-048-1300	26.0 ppb
2017-05-01	9590-049-1048	23.0 ppb
2017-05-01	9590-050-1352	30.0 ppb
2017-05-01	9590-051-0910	18.0 ppb
2017-05-18	9590-058-1734	ND
2017-07-19	9590-004-0933	1.90 ppb
2017-07-19	9590-054-0945	6.00 ppb
2017-08-07	9590-044-1225	21.0 ppb
2017-08-07	9590-045-1049	12.0 ppb
2017-08-07	9590-046-1131	25.0 ppb
2017-08-07	9590-047-1200	26.0 ppb
2017-08-07	9590-048-1242	27.0 ppb
2017-08-07	9590-049-1108	22.0 ppb
2017-08-07	9590-050-1330	14.0 ppb
2017-08-07	9590-051-1306	13.0 ppb
2017-10-04	9590-004-1124	1.80 ppb
2017-10-04	9590-054-1140	4.60 ppb
2017-11-06	9590-044-1235	21.0 ppb
2017-11-06	9590-045-0937	11.0 ppb
2017-11-06	9590-046-1139	20.0 ppb
2017-11-06	9590-047-1213	20.0 ppb
2017-11-06	9590-048-1304	20.0 ppb
2017-11-06	9590-049-1101	19.0 ppb
2017-11-06	9590-050-1218	16.0 ppb
2017-11-06	9590-051-1300	15.0 ppb
2017-11-07	9590-004-0955	ND
2017-11-14	9590-035-0930	ND
2017-11-14	9590-042-0848	ND
2018-01-09	9590-004-1100	1.40 ppb
2018-01-09	9590-054-1120	5.80 ppb
2018-02-05	9590-044-1127	17.0 ppb
2018-02-05	9590-045-1220	ND
2018-02-05	9590-046-1019	16.0 ppb
2018-02-05	9590-047-1053	18.0 ppb
2018-02-05	9590-048-1140	13.0 ppb
2018-02-05	9590-049-0932	12.0 ppb
2018-02-05	9590-050-1501	14.0 ppb
2018-02-05	9590-051-1201	ND
2018-05-07	9590-044-0917	16.0 ppb
2018-05-07	9590-045-0940	8.60 ppb
2018-05-07	9590-046-1011	18.0 ppb
2018-05-07	9590-047-1032	18.0 ppb
2018-05-07	9590-048-1050	15.0 ppb
2018-05-07	9590-049-1111	13.0 ppb
2018-05-07	9590-050-1156	16.0 ppb
2018-05-07	9590-051-1133	15.0 ppb
2018-05-09	9590-004-0905	1.10 ppb
2018-05-09	9590-054-0912	4.20 ppb
2018-07-30	9590-058-0815	ND
2018-08-06	9590-044-1139	24.0 ppb
2018-08-06	9590-045-0932	ND
2018-08-06	9590-046-1047	30.0 ppb
2018-08-06	9590-047-1113	17.0 ppb
2018-08-06	9590-048-1202	23.0 ppb
2018-08-06	9590-049-1023	16.0 ppb
2018-08-06	9590-050-0853	2.00 ppb
2018-08-06	9590-051-0815	ND
2018-08-15	9590-004-1052	13.0 ppb
2018-08-15	9590-054-1104	18.0 ppb
2018-09-25	9590-015-0947	ND
2018-09-25	9590-055-1120	ND
2018-09-26	9590-004-1131	ND
2018-11-05	9590-044-0849	16.0 ppb
2018-11-05	9590-045-0955	ND
2018-11-05	9590-046-0755	15.0 ppb
2018-11-05	9590-047-0827	18.0 ppb
2018-11-05	9590-048-0908	18.0 ppb
2018-11-05	9590-049-0732	17.0 ppb
2018-11-05	9590-050-1018	11.0 ppb
2018-11-05	9590-051-0932	ND
2018-11-14	9590-004-0932	ND
2018-11-14	9590-054-0945	2.70 ppb
2019-02-04	9590-044-0758	13.0 ppb
2019-02-04	9590-045-1007	ND
2019-02-04	9590-046-1041	18.0 ppb
2019-02-04	9590-047-1128	17.0 ppb
2019-02-04	9590-048-0847	15.0 ppb
2019-02-04	9590-049-0932	13.0 ppb
2019-02-04	9590-050-1148	8.40 ppb
2019-02-04	9590-051-0926	ND
2019-02-05	9590-004-1049	ND
2019-02-05	9590-054-1110	3.00 ppb
2019-05-06	9590-044-0831	19.0 ppb
2019-05-06	9590-045-1007	ND
2019-05-06	9590-046-1122	16.0 ppb
2019-05-06	9590-047-1210	12.0 ppb
2019-05-06	9590-048-0859	17.0 ppb
2019-05-06	9590-049-1025	16.0 ppb
2019-05-06	9590-050-1151	13.0 ppb
2019-05-06	9590-051-0748	ND
2019-05-07	9590-004-0905	ND
2019-05-07	9590-054-0915	2.60 ppb
2019-07-10	9590-004-0942	ND
2019-07-10	9590-054-0957	2.70 ppb
2019-07-17	9590-058-1324	ND
2019-08-05	9590-044-0839	24.0 ppb
2019-08-05	9590-045-0953	10.00 ppb
2019-08-05	9590-046-1015	23.0 ppb
2019-08-05	9590-047-1107	20.0 ppb
2019-08-05	9590-048-0859	21.0 ppb
2019-08-05	9590-049-0907	19.0 ppb
2019-08-05	9590-050-1133	20.0 ppb
2019-08-05	9590-051-0925	18.0 ppb
2019-09-04	9590-058-1240	ND
2019-10-07	9590-004-0942	ND
2019-10-07	9590-054-0957	3.70 ppb
2019-10-08	9590-058-1128	ND
2019-10-29	9590-004-1034	ND
2019-10-29	9590-031-0904	ND
2019-11-04	9590-044-0824	20.0 ppb
2019-11-04	9590-045-1055	9.50 ppb
2019-11-04	9590-046-0943	24.0 ppb
2019-11-04	9590-047-0910	16.0 ppb
2019-11-04	9590-048-0802	20.0 ppb
2019-11-04	9590-049-1033	15.0 ppb
2019-11-04	9590-050-1139	16.0 ppb
2019-11-04	9590-051-0728	ND
2019-12-05	9590-053-1403	ND