Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

Port Sulphur Water District

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.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND40ND

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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-3035371297001ND
2018-01-3035371297001ND
2019-02-0535446733001ND
2019-02-0535446733001ND
2019-05-3035472024001ND
2019-05-3035472024001ND
2020-03-1035536681001ND
2020-03-1835538502001ND
2020-11-1835593410001ND
2021-03-0135615732001ND
2021-03-0135615734001ND
2021-09-1335663084001ND
2021-10-2635673864001ND
2022-01-1335690764001ND
2023-02-0135777177001ND
2023-10-0335831861001ND
2023-10-0535832714001ND
2023-10-1135834155001ND