Trichloroethylene

Rockford

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.

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MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

133

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.569 ppb	23	10	ND - 2.20 ppb
2015	0.369 ppb	22	10	ND - 1.70 ppb
2016	0.729 ppb	16	12	ND - 1.30 ppb
2017	0.232 ppb	28	7	ND - 1.50 ppb
2018	0.171 ppb	26	5	ND - 1.50 ppb
2019	0.227 ppb	18	6	ND - 0.780 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
2014-01-21	4012700-05	ND
2014-01-21	4012700-06	ND
2014-01-22	4012700-02	0.620 ppb
2014-01-27	4013503-02	ND
2014-01-31	4020631-01	ND
2014-01-31	4020631-02	ND
2014-01-31	4020631-03	ND
2014-02-18	4022291-01	ND
2014-02-18	4022294-01	ND
2014-02-25	4023202-01	ND
2014-04-03	4040726-01	1.50 ppb
2014-04-03	4040814-01	1.50 ppb
2014-04-16	4042720-01	1.60 ppb
2014-04-16	4042720-04	0.900 ppb
2014-04-16	4042720-05	0.570 ppb
2014-04-16	4042720-02	1.60 ppb
2014-04-16	4042720-03	ND
2014-07-25	4074475-02	2.20 ppb
2014-07-30	4074475-01	1.30 ppb
2014-10-17	4103510-03	1.30 ppb
2014-10-17	4103510-02	ND
2014-10-28	4104356-01	ND
2014-12-05	4121752-01	ND
2015-02-06	5021724-01	ND
2015-02-18	5022511-03	1.70 ppb
2015-02-25	5023241-01	0.580 ppb
2015-04-08	5041268-01	0.810 ppb
2015-04-15	5042507-01	0.590 ppb
2015-04-15	5042507-02	ND
2015-04-22	5043417-01	0.540 ppb
2015-05-12	5051947-01	ND
2015-05-12	5051947-02	ND
2015-05-12	5051947-04	ND
2015-05-20	5053045-02	ND
2015-06-03	5060645-01	0.990 ppb
2015-06-17	5062896-01	ND
2015-06-23	5063877-01	ND
2015-07-29	5074562-01	0.970 ppb
2015-07-29	5074562-05	0.520 ppb
2015-10-27	5104115-02	ND
2015-10-27	5104115-03	0.610 ppb
2015-10-27	5104115-04	ND
2015-11-04	5110645-05	ND
2015-11-04	5110645-06	ND
2015-11-18	5112827-01	0.810 ppb
2016-01-19	6012741-02	0.890 ppb
2016-03-02	6030509-01	1.10 ppb
2016-04-13	6042243-01	0.770 ppb
2016-04-26	6044110-02	ND
2016-05-06	6051786-01	0.760 ppb
2016-05-06	6051786-02	0.570 ppb
2016-06-08	6061435-01	1.10 ppb
2016-06-08	6061437-01	0.880 ppb
2016-08-10	6082098-01	1.10 ppb
2016-08-17	6083403-01	1.10 ppb
2016-08-31	6085514-02	1.30 ppb
2016-10-12	6102040-01	ND
2016-11-09	6111726-03	ND
2016-11-09	6111726-04	1.10 ppb
2016-12-07	6121133-01	1.000 ppb
2016-12-09	6122209-01	ND
2017-01-06	7011622-01	0.590 ppb
2017-01-06	7011622-02	ND
2017-01-13	7012600-02	ND
2017-01-13	7012603-01	1.50 ppb
2017-01-13	7012603-03	ND
2017-01-20	7013468-03	ND
2017-01-20	7013468-04	ND
2017-01-20	7013468-01	ND
2017-01-20	7013468-02	ND
2017-01-27	7020195-01	1.20 ppb
2017-02-03	7021369-02	ND
2017-02-10	7022427-01	ND
2017-03-15	7032200-01	ND
2017-05-26	7060081-03	0.540 ppb
2017-05-26	7060081-01	ND
2017-05-26	7060081-02	ND
2017-06-02	7061425-01	ND
2017-06-09	7062750-05	0.920 ppb
2017-06-27	7064968-01	ND
2017-06-28	7065205-01	0.900 ppb
2017-08-04	7082231-03	0.850 ppb
2017-09-22	7094621-01	ND
2017-10-20	7104443-02	ND
2017-10-20	7104443-01	ND
2017-10-27	7110218-01	ND
2017-11-09	7112882-01	ND
2017-12-06	7121184-01	ND
2017-12-06	7121184-04	ND
2018-01-29	18A0571-01_02	0.857 ppb
2018-01-29	18A0571-02_02	ND
2018-02-02	8021162-01	ND
2018-03-16	8033673-01	ND
2018-03-16	8033673-02	ND
2018-04-06	8042289-01	0.920 ppb
2018-04-06	8042289-02	ND
2018-04-06	8042289-03	ND
2018-05-04	8051899-01	0.550 ppb
2018-05-04	8051899-02	ND
2018-05-23	8054284-01	ND
2018-05-23	8054284-02	ND
2018-05-23	8054284-03	0.630 ppb
2018-05-25	8055076-01	ND
2018-05-25	8055076-02	ND
2018-05-30	18E1190-01_02	ND
2018-06-12	8062624-01	ND
2018-06-15	8063760-01	ND
2018-09-12	8092119-01	ND
2018-09-12	8092119-02	1.50 ppb
2018-09-12	8092119-03	ND
2018-10-31	18K0014-01_02	ND
2018-11-02	8111425-02	ND
2018-12-05	18L0178-01_02	ND
2018-12-18	8123625-01	ND
2018-12-18	8123625-03	ND
2019-03-13	9032319-01	ND
2019-03-13	9032319-02	ND
2019-04-26	9050293-01	0.570 ppb
2019-04-26	9050293-02	0.700 ppb
2019-04-26	9050293-03	ND
2019-05-17	9055549-01	ND
2019-05-20	9054685-01	ND
2019-05-20	9054685-02	0.660 ppb
2019-07-26	9076124-04	0.730 ppb
2019-07-29	9076124-01	0.780 ppb
2019-07-29	9076124-02	ND
2019-11-08	9112291-01	ND
2019-11-08	9112291-02	ND
2019-11-08	9112291-05	ND
2019-11-08	9112291-06	ND
2019-11-08	9112291-07	ND
2019-11-08	9112291-08	0.640 ppb
2019-11-08	9112291-09	ND