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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Garfield 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

 

83

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

28

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.896 ppb1612ND - 1.51 ppb
20150.501 ppb156ND - 1.60 ppb
20160.689 ppb189ND - 1.85 ppb
2017ND90ND
20180.0323 ppb132ND - 0.300 ppb
20190.0417 ppb121ND - 0.500 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 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
2014-01-21AB46229HZ1.51 ppb
2014-01-21AB46230HZND
2014-02-20AB47523HZ1.20 ppb
2014-03-19AB48621HZ1.36 ppb
2014-04-15AB49727HZ1.25 ppb
2014-04-15AB49728HZND
2014-05-13AB50732HZ1.19 ppb
2014-06-10AB51911HZ1.14 ppb
2014-07-15AB53423HZ1.17 ppb
2014-07-15AB53424HZND
2014-08-19L5210780-21.07 ppb
2014-09-15L5250967-11.05 ppb
2014-10-21AB57426HZ1.12 ppb
2014-10-21AB57427HZND
2014-11-12AB58282HZ1.07 ppb
2014-12-09AB59404HZ1.20 ppb
2015-01-21AB60972HZND
2015-01-21AB60971HZ1.30 ppb
2015-02-24AB62244HZ1.21 ppb
2015-03-17AB63206HZ1.20 ppb
2015-04-21AB64574HZND
2015-04-21AB64573HZ1.11 ppb
2015-06-09AB66698HZND
2015-06-23AB67401HZND
2015-08-06AB69499HZND
2015-08-06AB69500HZND
2015-08-06AB69498HZ1.60 ppb
2015-09-22AB71495HZND
2015-10-20AB72632HZ1.09 ppb
2015-10-20AB72633HZND
2015-10-20AB72634HZND
2016-01-12AB75855HZ1.29 ppb
2016-01-12AB75856HZND
2016-01-12AB75854HZ0.560 ppb
2016-01-26AB76459HZND
2016-02-16AB77202HZND
2016-04-12AB79639HZ1.47 ppb
2016-04-12AB79640HZND
2016-04-12AB79638HZND
2016-07-12AB83719HZ1.85 ppb
2016-07-12AB83718HZND
2016-07-12AB83720HZND
2016-08-18AB85462HZ1.14 ppb
2016-09-13AB86447HZ1.51 ppb
2016-10-11AB87765HZND
2016-10-11AB87764HZ1.67 ppb
2016-10-11AB87763HZND
2016-11-22AB89699HZ1.48 ppb
2016-12-13AB90445HZ1.44 ppb
2017-01-10AB91459HZND
2017-01-10AB91460HZND
2017-04-11AB95109HZND
2017-04-11AB95110HZND
2017-07-11AB98675HZND
2017-07-11AB98674HZND
2017-10-10AC02410HZND
2017-10-10AC02407HZND
2017-12-12AC04918HZND
2018-01-09AC05949HZND
2018-01-09AC05950HZND
2018-04-10JC64163-20.120 ppb
2018-04-10JC64163-10.300 ppb
2018-05-09AC10706HZND
2018-07-17AC13548HZND
2018-07-17AC13545HZND
2018-08-03AC14315HZND
2018-09-18AC16305HZND
2018-10-04AC17147HZND
2018-10-04AC17143HZND
2018-11-09AC18616HZND
2018-12-11AC19842HZND
2019-01-08AC20865HZND
2019-01-08AC20869HZND
2019-02-11AC22466HZND
2019-04-02AC24607HZND
2019-04-02AC24608HZND
2019-04-02AC24609HZND
2019-07-12AC29239HZND
2019-07-12AC29243HZND
2019-07-12AC29242HZND
2019-10-02AC33249HZND
2019-10-02AC33253HZ0.500 ppb
2019-10-02AC33251HZND