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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Sonoma County Water Agency

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

 

73

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND130ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND140ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND110ND

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
2014-08-191610-001-0740ND
2014-08-191610-018-0430ND
2014-08-191610-015-1000ND
2014-08-191610-012-0825ND
2014-08-191610-008-0630ND
2014-08-191610-003-0915ND
2014-08-201610-050-0825ND
2014-08-201610-020-0950ND
2014-08-201610-019-0440ND
2014-08-201610-017-1045ND
2014-08-201610-002-0720ND
2014-08-201610-007-0640ND
2014-08-271610-006-0750ND
2015-08-111610-018-0500ND
2015-08-111610-001-0745ND
2015-08-111610-008-0700ND
2015-08-111610-017-0415ND
2015-08-111610-015-0945ND
2015-08-111610-012-0900ND
2015-08-111610-003-1130ND
2015-08-121610-020-1100ND
2015-08-121610-007-0640ND
2015-08-121610-019-1005ND
2015-08-121610-050-0830ND
2015-08-121610-006-1145ND
2015-08-121610-002-0730ND
2016-08-301610-018-0850ND
2016-08-301610-017-1030ND
2016-08-301610-015-0950ND
2016-08-301610-012-0838ND
2016-08-301610-001-1340ND
2016-08-301610-002-0800ND
2016-08-301610-003-0920ND
2016-08-311610-020-0515ND
2016-08-311610-007-0930ND
2016-08-311610-008-1045ND
2016-08-311610-050-0800ND
2016-08-311610-006-0600ND
2016-10-121610-019-0900ND
2016-11-091610-015-0810ND
2017-08-281610-003-0730ND
2017-08-281610-017-0920ND
2017-08-281610-002-0950ND
2017-08-281610-015-0845ND
2017-08-281610-001-0815ND
2017-08-291610-006-0610ND
2017-08-291610-050-0745ND
2017-08-291610-020-0515ND
2017-08-291610-008-0930ND
2017-08-291610-019-1145ND
2017-08-291610-007-1030ND
2018-08-271610-008-1130ND
2018-08-271610-050-0930ND
2018-08-271610-007-1110ND
2018-09-041610-006-0830ND
2018-09-041610-020-0915ND
2018-09-041610-017-0935ND
2018-09-041610-003-0950ND
2018-09-041610-002-1230ND
2018-09-041610-015-0900ND
2018-09-101610-019-0910ND
2018-09-111610-001-1115ND
2019-09-091610-020-0850ND
2019-09-091610-008-0930ND
2019-09-091610-006-0810ND
2019-09-091610-050-0730ND
2019-09-091610-007-1100ND
2019-09-101610-001-1040ND
2019-09-101610-017-0740ND
2019-09-101610-002-0810ND
2019-09-101610-015-0720ND
2019-09-101610-003-0700ND
2019-12-111610-019-0945ND