Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

University of Connecticut - Main Campus

NOTE: University of Connecticut - Main Campus purchases water from Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System which is required to test for trichloroethylene. Sample information shown below was taken by Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System.

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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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

NOTE: University of Connecticut - Main Campus purchases water from Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System which is required to test for trichloroethylene. Sample information shown below was taken by Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-23BZ78888VOC1ND
2018-01-31BZ82950VOC1ND
2018-07-13CA89901ND
2019-01-02VOC1 200517309ND
2019-03-15VOC1 200524883ND
2020-01-02VOC1 200561504ND
2020-06-29VOC1 200580772ND
2020-08-11VOC1 2005865730.900 ppb
2020-09-21VOC1 200591014ND
2020-10-07VOC1 2005932181.000 ppb
2021-03-05VOC1 200608707ND
2021-09-14300059932 300059934ND
2022-01-24CK22294ND
2022-01-25CK23175ND
2022-01-25CK23176ND
2022-02-01CK27428ND
2022-02-16CK69359ND
2022-08-26CM16199ND
2022-09-08CM25672ND
2022-09-20CM37295ND
2023-01-17CN24238ND
2023-12-13CP67269ND