Chloroform
Plymouth Water Department
Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Chloroform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Read More.
In addition to tap water disinfection, chloroform pollution in the environment also comes from industrial discharges from pulp and paper mills, and from urban wastewater effluent. Human studies show that chloroform damages the kidneys, liver and central nervous system. In animals, chloroform causes infertility, birth defects and cancer.
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 | 1.18 ppb | 10 | 10 | 0.570 ppb - 2.99 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.905 ppb | 15 | 13 | ND - 1.80 ppb |
| 2016 | 0.857 ppb | 14 | 13 | ND - 1.62 ppb |
| 2017 | 0.651 ppb | 15 | 11 | ND - 1.40 ppb |
| 2018 | 0.671 ppb | 13 | 8 | ND - 1.57 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.454 ppb | 14 | 7 | ND - 1.35 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 chloroform was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2014-05-14 | 0.780 ppb |
| 2014-08-07 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2014-11-24 | 1.96 ppb |
| 2014-11-24 | 1.14 ppb |
| 2014-11-24 | 0.720 ppb |
| 2014-11-24 | 0.670 ppb |
| 2014-11-24 | 0.640 ppb |
| 2014-11-24 | 1.07 ppb |
| 2014-11-24 | 0.570 ppb |
| 2014-11-24 | 2.99 ppb |
| 2015-01-14 | 0.810 ppb |
| 2015-08-19 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2015-08-19 | 0.840 ppb |
| 2015-08-19 | 1.21 ppb |
| 2015-08-19 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2015-11-24 | 1.09 ppb |
| 2015-11-24 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2015-11-24 | 1.08 ppb |
| 2015-11-24 | 0.610 ppb |
| 2015-11-24 | 0.960 ppb |
| 2015-11-24 | ND |
| 2015-11-24 | 1.06 ppb |
| 2015-11-24 | 1.36 ppb |
| 2015-11-24 | 0.860 ppb |
| 2015-12-14 | ND |
| 2016-08-17 | 1.12 ppb |
| 2016-08-17 | 0.550 ppb |
| 2016-08-17 | 0.650 ppb |
| 2016-08-17 | 1.05 ppb |
| 2016-10-05 | 0.830 ppb |
| 2016-10-05 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2016-10-05 | 1.21 ppb |
| 2016-10-05 | ND |
| 2016-10-05 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2016-10-05 | 0.530 ppb |
| 2016-10-05 | 0.620 ppb |
| 2016-10-05 | 0.620 ppb |
| 2016-10-05 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2016-11-21 | 1.62 ppb |
| 2017-01-24 | 1.05 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 1.19 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.560 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.550 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.730 ppb |
| 2017-12-07 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2017-12-07 | 0.670 ppb |
| 2017-12-07 | ND |
| 2017-12-07 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2017-12-07 | ND |
| 2017-12-07 | 0.520 ppb |
| 2017-12-07 | ND |
| 2017-12-07 | 1.19 ppb |
| 2017-12-07 | ND |
| 2017-12-07 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2018-05-15 | 1.01 ppb |
| 2018-08-22 | 1.28 ppb |
| 2018-08-22 | 1.29 ppb |
| 2018-08-22 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2018-08-22 | 1.57 ppb |
| 2018-10-23 | ND |
| 2018-10-23 | 0.560 ppb |
| 2018-10-23 | 0.850 ppb |
| 2018-10-23 | ND |
| 2018-10-23 | ND |
| 2018-10-23 | 1.06 ppb |
| 2018-10-23 | ND |
| 2018-12-19 | ND |
| 2019-08-14 | 1.35 ppb |
| 2019-08-14 | 0.760 ppb |
| 2019-08-14 | 0.580 ppb |
| 2019-08-14 | 0.720 ppb |
| 2019-10-03 | 1.03 ppb |
| 2019-10-03 | ND |
| 2019-10-03 | ND |
| 2019-10-03 | ND |
| 2019-10-03 | 0.720 ppb |
| 2019-10-03 | ND |
| 2019-10-03 | ND |
| 2019-10-03 | ND |
| 2019-10-03 | ND |
| 2019-10-03 | 1.20 ppb |