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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

City of Tallahassee

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

 

246

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.0180 ppb592ND - 1.000 ppb
2015ND370ND
20160.0113 ppb324ND - 0.120 ppb
20170.00241 ppb581ND - 0.140 ppb
2018ND280ND
2019ND320ND

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 Result
2014-01-07ND
2014-01-07ND
2014-01-07ND
2014-01-07ND
2014-01-07ND
2014-01-07ND
2014-01-07ND
2014-01-07ND
2014-01-28ND
2014-01-28ND
2014-01-28ND
2014-01-28ND
2014-01-28ND
2014-01-28ND
2014-03-11ND
2014-03-11ND
2014-03-11ND
2014-03-11ND
2014-03-11ND
2014-03-12ND
2014-04-021.000 ppb
2014-04-020.0600 ppb
2014-04-02ND
2014-04-02ND
2014-04-02ND
2014-04-02ND
2014-04-02ND
2014-04-02ND
2014-05-06ND
2014-05-06ND
2014-05-06ND
2014-05-06ND
2014-05-06ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-01ND
2014-07-22ND
2014-07-22ND
2014-07-22ND
2014-07-22ND
2014-07-22ND
2014-07-22ND
2014-09-09ND
2014-09-09ND
2014-09-09ND
2014-09-09ND
2014-10-02ND
2014-10-02ND
2014-10-02ND
2014-10-02ND
2014-10-02ND
2014-10-02ND
2014-10-02ND
2014-11-03ND
2015-01-06ND
2015-01-06ND
2015-01-06ND
2015-01-06ND
2015-01-06ND
2015-01-14ND
2015-01-14ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-04-01ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-07-23ND
2015-10-01ND
2015-10-01ND
2015-10-01ND
2015-10-01ND
2015-10-01ND
2015-10-01ND
2015-10-01ND
2015-10-07ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-01-06ND
2016-04-07ND
2016-04-070.0800 ppb
2016-04-07ND
2016-04-07ND
2016-04-07ND
2016-04-07ND
2016-04-07ND
2016-04-07ND
2016-07-13ND
2016-07-13ND
2016-07-13ND
2016-07-13ND
2016-07-13ND
2016-07-13ND
2016-07-130.1000 ppb
2016-07-13ND
2016-10-06ND
2016-10-060.120 ppb
2016-10-06ND
2016-10-06ND
2016-10-06ND
2016-10-06ND
2016-11-17ND
2016-11-170.0600 ppb
2017-01-05ND
2017-01-05ND
2017-01-05ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-02-01ND
2017-02-01ND
2017-02-23ND
2017-03-08ND
2017-03-08ND
2017-03-08ND
2017-03-08ND
2017-03-08ND
2017-03-08ND
2017-03-08ND
2017-04-05ND
2017-04-05ND
2017-04-05ND
2017-04-05ND
2017-04-05ND
2017-06-05ND
2017-06-05ND
2017-06-20ND
2017-06-20ND
2017-06-20ND
2017-06-20ND
2017-06-20ND
2017-06-20ND
2017-07-05ND
2017-07-05ND
2017-07-05ND
2017-07-05ND
2017-07-05ND
2017-07-05ND
2017-07-18ND
2017-07-18ND
2017-07-18ND
2017-07-18ND
2017-07-18ND
2017-08-02ND
2017-09-14ND
2017-09-14ND
2017-09-14ND
2017-09-14ND
2017-09-20ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-120.140 ppb
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-12ND
2018-01-03ND
2018-01-03ND
2018-01-03ND
2018-01-03ND
2018-01-03ND
2018-01-03ND
2018-01-03ND
2018-06-14ND
2018-06-14ND
2018-06-14ND
2018-06-14ND
2018-06-14ND
2018-06-14ND
2018-06-14ND
2018-08-16ND
2018-08-16ND
2018-08-16ND
2018-08-16ND
2018-08-16ND
2018-08-16ND
2018-08-16ND
2018-10-24ND
2018-10-24ND
2018-10-24ND
2018-10-24ND
2018-10-24ND
2018-10-24ND
2018-10-24ND
2019-01-30ND
2019-01-30ND
2019-01-30ND
2019-01-30ND
2019-01-30ND
2019-01-30ND
2019-01-30ND
2019-01-30ND
2019-04-10ND
2019-04-10ND
2019-04-10ND
2019-04-10ND
2019-04-10ND
2019-04-10ND
2019-04-10ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-07-17ND
2019-10-08ND
2019-10-08ND
2019-10-08ND
2019-10-08ND
2019-10-08ND
2019-10-08ND
2019-10-15ND