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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Eureka

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

 

56

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND130ND
2015ND90ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-01-28AC17703ND
2014-01-28AC17702ND
2014-01-28AC17704ND
2014-04-30AC22515ND
2014-04-30AC22516ND
2014-04-30AC22517ND
2014-07-30AC30062ND
2014-07-30AC30063ND
2014-07-30AC30064ND
2014-08-20AC33710ND
2014-10-28AC37317ND
2014-10-28AC37318ND
2014-10-28AC37319ND
2015-01-30AC41366ND
2015-01-30AC41365ND
2015-04-29AC45798ND
2015-04-29AC45799ND
2015-08-19AC58580ND
2015-08-19AC58581ND
2015-09-29AC60323ND
2015-10-29AC62083ND
2015-10-29AC62082ND
2016-01-29AC65841ND
2016-01-29AC65842ND
2016-04-28AC70157ND
2016-04-28AC70156ND
2016-08-03AC80845ND
2016-08-03AC80846ND
2016-10-24AC86077ND
2016-10-24AC86078ND
2017-01-23AC89907ND
2017-01-23AC89908ND
2017-04-26AC95129ND
2017-04-26AC95128ND
2017-07-26AD02414ND
2017-07-26AD02413ND
2017-08-15AD04261ND
2017-08-15AD04262ND
2017-08-15AD04260ND
2017-10-30AD08623ND
2017-10-30AD08622ND
2018-01-22AD12092ND
2018-01-22AD12091ND
2018-05-08AD18727ND
2018-05-08AD18728ND
2018-07-12AD29644ND
2018-07-12AD29645ND
2018-09-14AD33875ND
2019-01-16AD38511ND
2019-01-16AD38512ND
2019-04-17AD46829ND
2019-04-17AD46830ND
2019-07-18AD52843ND
2019-07-18AD52844ND
2019-10-24AD57534ND
2019-10-24AD57535ND