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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Lafayette Utilities Water 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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

82

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND20ND
2015ND300ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND200ND
2019ND140ND

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
2014-11-03AD99281ND
2014-11-03AD99281ND
2015-02-2335176705001ND
2015-02-2335176705001ND
2015-06-0835192506001ND
2015-06-0835192506001ND
2015-07-2735199527004ND
2015-07-2735199527001ND
2015-07-2735199527002ND
2015-07-2735199527003ND
2015-07-2735199527004ND
2015-07-2735199527005ND
2015-07-2735199527003ND
2015-07-2735199527002ND
2015-07-2735199527001ND
2015-07-2735199527005ND
2015-08-1735203222004ND
2015-08-1735203222003ND
2015-08-1735203222002ND
2015-08-1735203222001ND
2015-08-1735203222005ND
2015-08-1735203222005ND
2015-08-1735203222004ND
2015-08-1735203222003ND
2015-08-1735203222002ND
2015-08-1735203222001ND
2015-11-3035218949005ND
2015-11-3035218949003ND
2015-11-3035218949003ND
2015-11-3035218949004ND
2015-11-3035218949005ND
2015-11-3035218949004ND
2016-03-1435234164005ND
2016-03-1435234164005ND
2016-03-2135235879005ND
2016-03-2135235879005ND
2016-08-1535260131003ND
2016-08-1535260131001ND
2016-08-1535260131002ND
2016-08-1535260131001ND
2016-08-1535260131002ND
2016-08-1535260131003ND
2016-08-1535260131004ND
2016-08-1535260131004ND
2017-09-2535338379001ND
2017-09-2535338379001ND
2017-11-2735350946001ND
2017-11-2735350946001ND
2018-03-0535378308003ND
2018-03-0535378308002ND
2018-03-0535378308004ND
2018-03-0535378308005ND
2018-03-0535378308004ND
2018-03-0535378308005ND
2018-03-0535378308001ND
2018-03-0535378308003ND
2018-03-0535378308002ND
2018-03-0535378308001ND
2018-04-3035389627001ND
2018-04-3035389627001ND
2018-05-1435392629001ND
2018-05-1435392629001ND
2018-06-1935399735001ND
2018-06-1935399735002ND
2018-06-1935399735003ND
2018-06-1935399735001ND
2018-06-1935399735002ND
2018-06-1935399735003ND
2019-01-1435442609002ND
2019-01-1435442609001ND
2019-01-1435442609001ND
2019-01-1435442609002ND
2019-08-1235490056001ND
2019-08-1235490056005ND
2019-08-1235490056004ND
2019-08-1235490056003ND
2019-08-1235490056002ND
2019-08-1235490056001ND
2019-08-1235490056005ND
2019-08-1235490056004ND
2019-08-1235490056003ND
2019-08-1235490056002ND