Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Trichloroethylene

Chaffee PWS

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

 

49

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND120ND
2015ND90ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

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
2014-01-28AC17614ND
2014-01-28AC17615ND
2014-01-28AC17613ND
2014-04-21AC22456ND
2014-04-21AC22457ND
2014-04-21AC22458ND
2014-07-21AC30020ND
2014-07-21AC30021ND
2014-07-21AC30022ND
2014-11-06AC39176ND
2014-11-16AC39267ND
2014-11-16AC39268ND
2015-04-28AC45741ND
2015-04-28AC45742ND
2015-04-28AC45743ND
2015-08-03AC58304ND
2015-08-03AC58305ND
2015-08-03AC58306ND
2015-10-28AC61941ND
2015-10-28AC61943ND
2015-10-28AC61942ND
2016-01-29AC65712ND
2016-01-29AC65711ND
2016-01-29AC65710ND
2016-04-26AC70002ND
2016-04-26AC70003ND
2016-04-26AC70001ND
2016-08-01AC80700ND
2016-08-01AC80701ND
2016-08-01AC80699ND
2016-10-25AC85946ND
2016-10-25AC85947ND
2016-10-25AC85948ND
2017-01-19AC89827ND
2017-01-19AC89826ND
2017-01-19AC89825ND
2017-04-24AC95072ND
2017-04-24AC95073ND
2017-04-24AC95071ND
2017-07-17AD02378ND
2017-10-23AD08579ND
2018-01-10AD12050ND
2018-05-06AD18663ND
2018-07-16AD29540ND
2018-10-15AD35060ND
2019-01-09AD38372ND
2019-04-08AD46663ND
2019-07-10AD52709ND
2019-10-20AD57371ND