Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Trichloroethylene

City of Pocatello

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

 

65

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

12

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.141 ppb82ND - 0.590 ppb
2015ND80ND
2016ND160ND
20170.249 ppb83ND - 0.750 ppb
20180.968 ppb94ND - 5.16 ppb
20190.109 ppb163ND - 0.610 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 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
2014-04-30VI40413001ND
2014-09-09VI409079070.590 ppb
2014-09-09VI40907906ND
2014-09-09VI40907905ND
2014-09-09VI40907904ND
2014-09-09VI40907903ND
2014-09-09VI40907902ND
2014-09-09VI409079010.540 ppb
2015-09-10VI50906301ND
2015-09-10VI50906302ND
2015-09-10VI50906303ND
2015-09-10VI50906304ND
2015-09-10VI50906402ND
2015-09-10VI50906403ND
2015-09-10VI50906404ND
2015-09-10VI50906401ND
2016-10-17VI61012210ND
2016-10-17VI61012201ND
2016-10-17VI61012202ND
2016-10-17VI61012203ND
2016-10-17VI61012204ND
2016-10-17VI61012205ND
2016-10-17VI61012206ND
2016-10-17VI61012207ND
2016-10-17VI61012208ND
2016-10-17VI61012209ND
2016-10-17VI61012211ND
2016-10-17VI61012212ND
2016-10-17VI61012213ND
2016-10-17VI61012215ND
2016-10-17VI61012216ND
2016-10-18VI61013201ND
2017-10-04VI71004906ND
2017-10-04VI71004905ND
2017-10-04VI71004904ND
2017-10-04VI71004903ND
2017-10-04VI71004902ND
2017-10-05VI710049080.530 ppb
2017-10-05VI710049070.710 ppb
2017-10-05VI710049010.750 ppb
2018-05-02VI805023015.16 ppb
2018-09-26VI80927601ND
2018-09-26VI809276021.38 ppb
2018-09-26VI809276031.000 ppb
2018-09-26VI80927604ND
2018-09-26VI80927606ND
2018-09-26VI80927607ND
2018-09-26VI809276081.17 ppb
2018-09-26VI80927605ND
2019-10-08VI91008802ND
2019-10-08VI91008803ND
2019-10-08VI910088040.610 ppb
2019-10-08VI910088050.540 ppb
2019-10-08VI91008806ND
2019-10-08VI910088070.590 ppb
2019-10-08VI91008808ND
2019-10-08VI91009201ND
2019-10-08VI91009202ND
2019-10-08VI91009203ND
2019-10-08VI91009204ND
2019-10-08VI91009205ND
2019-10-08VI91009206ND
2019-10-08VI91009207ND
2019-10-08VI91009208ND
2019-10-08VI91008801ND