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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission

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

 

74

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND160ND
2015ND160ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND100ND
2019ND100ND

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
2014-03-0692331CHND
2014-03-0692332CHND
2014-03-0692333CHND
2014-03-0692330CHND
2014-05-1493438CHND
2014-05-1493439CHND
2014-05-1493440CHND
2014-05-1493441CHND
2014-07-1794365CHND
2014-07-1794367CHND
2014-07-1794366CHND
2014-07-1794364CHND
2014-10-2795928CHND
2014-10-2795929CHND
2014-10-2795930CHND
2014-10-2795931CHND
2015-02-0597295CHND
2015-02-0597297CHND
2015-02-0597296CHND
2015-02-0597294CHND
2015-05-0898758CHND
2015-05-0898759CHND
2015-05-0898760CHND
2015-05-0898761CHND
2015-08-12100413CHND
2015-08-12100414CHND
2015-08-12100415CHND
2015-08-12100416CHND
2015-10-15101616CHND
2015-10-15101617CHND
2015-10-15101618CHND
2015-10-15101619CHND
2016-02-04103394CHND
2016-02-04103395CHND
2016-02-04103396CHND
2016-02-04103392CHND
2016-02-04103391CHND
2016-02-04103393CHND
2016-05-02104825CHND
2016-05-02104826CHND
2016-08-01106398GEND
2016-08-01106399GEND
2016-12-06108644GEND
2016-12-06108645GEND
2017-01-31109466GEND
2017-01-31109465GEND
2017-05-09111182GEND
2017-05-09111183GEND
2017-05-09111184GEND
2017-05-09111185GEND
2017-09-14113544GEND
2017-09-14113545GEND
2017-12-11115013GEND
2017-12-11115014GEND
2018-02-06115853GEND
2018-02-06115856GEND
2018-02-06115854GEND
2018-02-06115855GEND
2018-05-22117860GEND
2018-05-22117861GEND
2018-09-07120043ND
2018-09-07120044ND
2018-12-18121897ND
2018-12-18121898ND
2019-03-06123279ND
2019-03-06123278ND
2019-06-27125673ND
2019-06-27125674ND
2019-09-10127389ND
2019-09-10127390ND
2019-09-10127391ND
2019-12-18129475ND
2019-12-18129476ND
2019-12-18129477ND