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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

City of Hastings

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

 

62

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
2014ND80ND
2015ND180ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND130ND
2019ND50ND

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
2014-02-04278454ND
2014-02-04278453ND
2014-02-04278456ND
2014-02-04278455ND
2014-05-21294416ND
2014-07-28309707ND
2014-10-28328556ND
2014-10-28328557ND
2015-01-21343294ND
2015-01-21343293ND
2015-01-21343292ND
2015-01-21343291ND
2015-02-11343298ND
2015-02-11343300ND
2015-02-11343299ND
2015-02-11343297ND
2015-02-11343296ND
2015-02-11343295ND
2015-03-02345934ND
2015-05-20353452ND
2015-05-20353451ND
2015-05-20353450ND
2015-05-20353449ND
2015-07-28370830ND
2015-10-27391749ND
2015-10-27391750ND
2016-02-01ND
2016-02-01ND
2016-02-01ND
2016-02-01ND
2016-04-05ND
2016-09-07ND
2016-10-25ND
2016-10-25ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-02-28ND
2017-05-22ND
2017-08-29ND
2017-10-02ND
2018-01-23530717ND
2018-01-23530716ND
2018-01-23530715ND
2018-01-23530714ND
2018-02-26530718ND
2018-02-26530719ND
2018-04-09546687ND
2018-06-04541540ND
2018-06-04541541ND
2018-06-04541542ND
2018-07-25560138ND
2018-09-04560238ND
2018-10-23577080ND
2019-01-22592258ND
2019-01-22592257ND
2019-01-22592256ND
2019-07-29621218ND
2019-10-28638456ND