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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Merchantville Pennsauken

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

 

140

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

21

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.139 ppb223ND - 2.00 ppb
20150.0790 ppb213ND - 0.630 ppb
20160.173 ppb173ND - 1.42 ppb
20170.0350 ppb201ND - 0.700 ppb
20180.259 ppb205ND - 1.50 ppb
20190.1000 ppb406ND - 0.900 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
2014-03-1014031564-002ND
2014-03-1014031564-001ND
2014-03-1014031564-0032.00 ppb
2014-03-1014031564-004ND
2014-06-1314061879-001ND
2014-06-1314061879-004ND
2014-06-1314061879-002ND
2014-06-1314061879-003ND
2014-09-2414092463-001ND
2014-09-2414092463-004ND
2014-09-2414092463-002ND
2014-09-2414092463-003ND
2014-12-05141205/2656-01ND
2014-12-05141205/2656-01AND
2014-12-05141205/2656-02A0.530 ppb
2014-12-05141205/2656-04ND
2014-12-05141205/2656-05ND
2014-12-05141205/2656-020.530 ppb
2014-12-05141205/2656-05AND
2014-12-05141205/2656-03AND
2014-12-05141205/2656-04AND
2014-12-05141205/2656-03ND
2015-03-13150313/2810-01ND
2015-03-13150313/2810-01AND
2015-03-13150313/2810-04AND
2015-03-13150313/2810-04ND
2015-03-13150313/2810-02AND
2015-03-13150313/2810-02ND
2015-03-13150313/2810-03ND
2015-03-13150313/2810-03AND
2015-05-15150515/2933-10.500 ppb
2015-05-15150515/2933-4ND
2015-05-15150515/2933-20.530 ppb
2015-05-15150515/2933-3VND
2015-08-14150814/3122-1ND
2015-08-14150814/3122-4ND
2015-08-14150814/3122-2ND
2015-08-14150814/3122-3ND
2015-11-13151113/3292-1AND
2015-11-13151113/3292-2AND
2015-11-13151113/3292-5A0.630 ppb
2015-11-13151113/3292-3AND
2015-11-13151113/3292-4AND
2016-02-29160229/3447-11.42 ppb
2016-02-29160229/3447-4ND
2016-02-29160229/3447-20.951 ppb
2016-02-29160229/3447-3ND
2016-05-26160526/3624-1ND
2016-05-26160526/3624-4ND
2016-05-26160526/3624-20.575 ppb
2016-05-26160526/3624-3ND
2016-08-19160819/3813-1ND
2016-08-19160819/3813-4ND
2016-08-19160819/3813-2ND
2016-08-19160819/3813-3ND
2016-11-28161128/3976-5ND
2016-11-28161128/3976-1ND
2016-11-28161128/3976-4ND
2016-11-28161128/3976-2ND
2016-11-28161128/3976-3ND
2017-02-17170217/4114-1ND
2017-02-17170217/4114-4ND
2017-02-17170217/4114-2ND
2017-02-17170217/4114-3ND
2017-06-1236441302ND
2017-06-1236441301ND
2017-06-1236441303ND
2017-06-1236441304ND
2017-06-2636672801ND
2017-06-2636672804ND
2017-06-2636672803ND
2017-09-1537547601ND
2017-09-1537547604ND
2017-09-15375476020.700 ppb
2017-09-1537547603ND
2017-11-2738205101ND
2017-11-2738205102ND
2017-11-2738205104ND
2017-12-1138493401ND
2017-12-1138493402ND
2018-03-1939403301ND
2018-03-1939403302ND
2018-03-1939403303ND
2018-03-1939403304ND
2018-05-2540150501ND
2018-05-2540150502ND
2018-05-2540150505ND
2018-05-25401505031.50 ppb
2018-05-2540150504ND
2018-06-2140497701ND
2018-07-1040707701ND
2018-07-1040707702ND
2018-07-1040707705ND
2018-07-10407077031.40 ppb
2018-07-1040707704ND
2018-07-20408823010.900 ppb
2018-12-14P18-8909-010.700 ppb
2018-12-14P18-8909-04ND
2018-12-14P18-8909-020.680 ppb
2018-12-14P18-8909-03ND
2019-02-08P19-0805-01ND
2019-02-08P19-0805-02ND
2019-02-08P19-0805-05ND
2019-02-08P19-0805-030.700 ppb
2019-02-08P19-0805-04ND
2019-06-05390605795AND
2019-06-05390605793AND
2019-06-05390605792AND
2019-06-05390605791AA0.600 ppb
2019-06-05390605794AND
2019-07-03390703736ND
2019-07-03390703739ND
2019-07-03390703740ND
2019-07-033907037380.700 ppb
2019-07-03390703737ND
2019-08-07390807765ND
2019-08-073908077680.900 ppb
2019-08-07390807769ND
2019-08-073908077670.500 ppb
2019-08-07390807766ND
2019-09-04390904797ND
2019-09-04390904800ND
2019-09-04390904801ND
2019-09-043909047990.600 ppb
2019-09-04390904798ND
2019-10-02391002729ND
2019-10-02391002732ND
2019-10-02391002733ND
2019-10-02391002731ND
2019-10-02391002730ND
2019-11-07391107826ND
2019-11-07391107829ND
2019-11-07391107830ND
2019-11-07391107828ND
2019-11-07391107827ND
2019-12-04391204827ND
2019-12-04391204830ND
2019-12-04391204831ND
2019-12-04391204829ND
2019-12-04391204828ND