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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Dover Water Department

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

 

50

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
2014ND100ND
2015ND70ND
2016ND70ND
2017ND100ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND70ND

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
2014-02-18A400694002ND
2014-05-08A402208001ND
2014-07-10A404706001ND
2014-07-14A404793001ND
2014-07-14A404793003ND
2014-07-23A405333001ND
2014-07-23A405333002ND
2014-07-23A405333004ND
2014-08-07A406202001ND
2014-11-03A408858001ND
2015-07-21A505471001ND
2015-07-21A505471002ND
2015-07-21A505471003ND
2015-07-21A505471004ND
2015-07-23A505633002ND
2015-07-23A505633003ND
2015-07-23A505633001ND
2016-07-06B605223001ND
2016-07-06B605223003ND
2016-07-07B605299002ND
2016-07-07B605299003ND
2016-07-07B605299004ND
2016-07-13B605689002ND
2016-07-25B606384002ND
2017-05-12B702494001ND
2017-06-01B703156002ND
2017-07-19B705657002ND
2017-07-19B705657004ND
2017-07-19B705657001ND
2017-07-20B705749002ND
2017-07-20B705749004ND
2017-07-20B705749006ND
2017-10-10B709124001ND
2017-10-10B709124002ND
2018-01-22B800282001ND
2018-01-22B800282002ND
2018-03-27B801275001ND
2018-04-19B801796001ND
2018-05-15B802449002ND
2018-07-24B805761001ND
2018-07-24B805761002ND
2018-08-15B806964001ND
2018-09-05B807804001ND
2019-04-11B901990001ND
2019-07-02B904902001ND
2019-07-02B904902002ND
2019-07-10B905242002ND
2019-07-10B905242004ND
2019-07-10B905242005ND
2019-11-14B910098001ND