Trichloroethylene

East Orange Water Commission

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

363

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	0.0720 ppb	138	7	ND - 1.77 ppb
2015	ND	66	0	ND
2016	0.0158 ppb	95	5	ND - 0.343 ppb
2017	ND	24	0	ND
2018	ND	22	0	ND
2019	ND	18	0	ND

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
2014-01-07	24913-1	ND
2014-01-09	24970-1	ND
2014-01-09	24970-2	ND
2014-01-14	25006-1	ND
2014-01-21	25140-1	ND
2014-01-28	25218-1	ND
2014-01-31	25276-1	ND
2014-01-31	25276-2	1.77 ppb
2014-01-31	25276-5	ND
2014-01-31	25276-3	ND
2014-01-31	25276-4	ND
2014-02-06	25316-1	ND
2014-02-07	25337-1	ND
2014-02-07	25337-2	ND
2014-02-11	25394-1	ND
2014-02-18	25484-1	ND
2014-02-21	25559-2	ND
2014-02-21	25559-1	1.38 ppb
2014-02-21	25559-3	ND
2014-02-21	25559-5	ND
2014-02-21	25559-4	ND
2014-02-25	25576-1	ND
2014-03-04	25672-1	ND
2014-03-06	25737-2	ND
2014-03-06	25737-3	ND
2014-03-06	25737-1	ND
2014-03-11	25775-1	ND
2014-03-13	25847-2	ND
2014-03-13	25847-1	1.32 ppb
2014-03-14	25864-3	ND
2014-03-14	25864-4	ND
2014-03-14	25864-2	ND
2014-03-14	25864-1	ND
2014-03-18	25881-1	ND
2014-03-25	26003-1	ND
2014-03-25	26002-2	ND
2014-03-25	26002-3	ND
2014-03-25	26002-1	ND
2014-04-02	26091-1	ND
2014-04-10	26219-1	ND
2014-04-11	26230-1	ND
2014-04-15	26276-1	ND
2014-04-17	26318-2	ND
2014-04-17	26318-1	1.51 ppb
2014-04-17	26317-1	ND
2014-04-17	26318-3	ND
2014-04-17	26318-4	ND
2014-04-17	26318-5	ND
2014-04-22	26360-1	ND
2014-04-24	26411-2	ND
2014-04-24	26411-1	ND
2014-04-29	26464-1	ND
2014-05-07	26577-1	ND
2014-05-08	26615-2	ND
2014-05-08	26615-1	1.44 ppb
2014-05-08	26615-3	ND
2014-05-08	26615-4	ND
2014-05-08	26615-5	ND
2014-05-13	26667-1	ND
2014-05-14	26681-1	ND
2014-05-19	26759-1	ND
2014-05-21	26792-1	ND
2014-05-22	26819-4	ND
2014-05-22	26819-1	ND
2014-05-22	26819-2	ND
2014-05-22	26819-3	ND
2014-05-27	26878-1	ND
2014-06-09	27071-1	ND
2014-06-10	27079-1	ND
2014-06-10	27097-1	ND
2014-06-11	27122-1	ND
2014-06-12	27158-1	ND
2014-06-12	27158-2	ND
2014-06-12	27158-3	ND
2014-06-12	27158-4	ND
2014-06-12	27158-5	ND
2014-06-17	27241-1	ND
2014-06-19	27330-1	ND
2014-06-19	27331-1	ND
2014-06-19	27331-2	ND
2014-06-20	27346-1	ND
2014-06-20	27371-1	ND
2014-06-20	27371-2	ND
2014-06-24	27397-1	ND
2014-06-30	27523-1	ND
2014-07-10	27714-1	ND
2014-07-10	27713-1	ND
2014-07-10	27713-2	ND
2014-07-10	27713-3	ND
2014-07-15	27777-1	ND
2014-07-23	27976-1	1.11 ppb
2014-07-28	28019-1	ND
2014-07-30	28095-1	ND
2014-07-31	28096-1	ND
2014-08-04	28121-1	ND
2014-08-05	28147-1	ND
2014-08-06	DWS031-1	ND
2014-08-06	DWS032-1	ND
2014-08-06	DWS033-1	1.40 ppb
2014-08-12	28234-1	ND
2014-08-19	28458-1	ND
2014-08-26	28543-1	ND
2014-08-27	28573-1	ND
2014-08-27	28573-2	ND
2014-08-27	28573-3	ND
2014-09-02	28651-1	ND
2014-09-08	28701-2	ND
2014-09-08	28701-1	ND
2014-09-10	28778-1	ND
2014-09-10	28777-1	ND
2014-09-12	28836-1	ND
2014-09-12	28835-1	ND
2014-09-15	28859-1	ND
2014-09-17	28911-1	ND
2014-09-18	28912-1	ND
2014-09-23	29005-1	ND
2014-10-07	29281-1	ND
2014-10-14	29393-1	ND
2014-10-21	29490-1	ND
2014-10-22	29541-1	ND
2014-10-23	29543-1	ND
2014-10-24	29585-1	ND
2014-10-27	29600-1	ND
2014-10-28	29598-1	ND
2014-10-28	29599-1	ND
2014-11-03	29679-1	ND
2014-11-10	29769-1	ND
2014-11-10	29768-1	ND
2014-11-14	29897-1	ND
2014-11-17	29909-1	ND
2014-11-19	29963-1	ND
2014-11-24	30038-1	ND
2014-12-02	30114-1	ND
2014-12-09	30243-1	ND
2014-12-16	30355-1	ND
2014-12-23	30475-1	ND
2014-12-30	30555-1	ND
2014-12-30	30556-1	ND
2015-01-06	30599-1	ND
2015-01-07	30666-1	ND
2015-01-13	30753-1	ND
2015-01-13	30754-1	ND
2015-01-15	30803-1	ND
2015-01-21	30882-1	ND
2015-01-26	30938-1	ND
2015-02-05	31104-1	ND
2015-02-10	31146-1	ND
2015-02-20	31324-1	ND
2015-02-24	31365-1	ND
2015-03-03	31492-1	ND
2015-03-05	31545-2	ND
2015-03-10	31593-1	ND
2015-03-20	31784-1	ND
2015-03-24	31820-1	ND
2015-04-01	31924-1	ND
2015-04-07	DWS111-1	ND
2015-04-14	DWS194-1	ND
2015-04-16	DWS240-1	ND
2015-04-21	DWS310-1	ND
2015-04-28	DWS318-1	ND
2015-05-06	DWS466-1	ND
2015-05-13	DWS534-1	ND
2015-05-19	DWS539-1	ND
2015-05-26	DWS627-1	ND
2015-06-02	DWS686-1	ND
2015-06-09	DWS776-1	ND
2015-06-16	DWS862-1	ND
2015-06-20	DWS982-1	ND
2015-06-23	DWS921-1	ND
2015-07-07	DWS1065-1	ND
2015-07-14	DWSC24-1	ND
2015-07-21	DWSC67-1	ND
2015-07-21	DWSC66-1	ND
2015-07-22	DWSC72-1	ND
2015-07-28	DWSC98-1	ND
2015-08-10	DWSC166-1	ND
2015-08-18	DWSC226-1	ND
2015-08-24	DWSC264-1	ND
2015-08-25	DWSC285-1	ND
2015-09-01	DWSC303-1	ND
2015-09-08	DWSC338-1	ND
2015-09-15	DWSC383-1	ND
2015-10-06	DWSC535-1	ND
2015-10-09	DWSC574-1	ND
2015-10-13	DWSC579-1	ND
2015-10-20	DWSC628-1	ND
2015-10-22	DWSC658-1	ND
2015-10-23	DWSC681-1	ND
2015-10-27	DWSC667-1	ND
2015-10-28	DWSC682-1	ND
2015-10-30	5110004-01	ND
2015-11-04	5110115-01	ND
2015-11-06	5110210-01	ND
2015-11-10	5110310-01	ND
2015-11-11	5110403-01	ND
2015-11-12	5110418-01	ND
2015-11-16	5110527-01	ND
2015-11-24	5110715-01	ND
2015-12-01	5120004-01	ND
2015-12-05	5120195-01	ND
2015-12-08	5120226-01	ND
2015-12-15	5120439-01	ND
2015-12-22	5120663-01	ND
2015-12-29	5120772-01	ND
2016-01-05	6010029-01	ND
2016-01-13	6010300-01	ND
2016-01-14	6010330-01	ND
2016-01-15	6010434-01	ND
2016-01-19	6010435-01	ND
2016-01-20	6010477-01	ND
2016-01-26	6010640-01	ND
2016-01-26	6010614-01	ND
2016-01-27	6010639-01	ND
2016-01-28	6010673-01	ND
2016-01-29	6020018-01	ND
2016-02-02	6020047-01	ND
2016-02-04	6020138-01	ND
2016-02-09	6020259-01	ND
2016-02-10	6020342-01	ND
2016-02-19	6020522-01	ND
2016-02-23	6020588-01	ND
2016-03-01	6030009-01	ND
2016-03-04	6030195-01	ND
2016-03-08	6030253-01	ND
2016-03-15	6030466-01	ND
2016-03-23	6030717-01	ND
2016-03-29	6030898-01	ND
2016-04-02	6040051-01	0.270 ppb
2016-04-03	6040052-01	ND
2016-04-04	6040064-01	ND
2016-04-05	6040126-01	0.304 ppb
2016-04-07	6040204-01	ND
2016-04-08	6040310-01	0.343 ppb
2016-04-08	6040290-01	ND
2016-04-09	6040357-01	ND
2016-04-10	6040355-01	ND
2016-04-10	6040356-01	ND
2016-04-11	6040365-01	ND
2016-04-12	6040394-01	ND
2016-04-14	6040503-01	ND
2016-04-19	6040662-01	ND
2016-04-26	6040844-01	ND
2016-05-03	6050054-01	ND
2016-05-10	6050327-01	ND
2016-05-16	6050537-01	ND
2016-05-31	6050905-01	ND
2016-06-06	6060253-01	ND
2016-06-14	6060417-01	ND
2016-06-21	6060623-01	ND
2016-06-24	6060771-01	ND
2016-06-28	6060838-01	ND
2016-07-05	6070046-01	ND
2016-07-13	6070327-01	ND
2016-07-19	6070486-01	ND
2016-08-02	6080055-01	ND
2016-08-05	6080198-01	ND
2016-08-05	6080197-01	0.306 ppb
2016-08-08	6080240-01	ND
2016-08-09	6080281-01	ND
2016-08-09	6080299-01	ND
2016-08-10	6080344-01	ND
2016-08-12	6080487-01	0.282 ppb
2016-08-16	6080528-01	ND
2016-08-17	6080621-01	ND
2016-08-18	6080665-01	ND
2016-08-22	6080703-01	ND
2016-08-23	6080745-01	ND
2016-08-25	6080841-01	ND
2016-08-26	6080913-01	ND
2016-08-31	6080980-01	ND
2016-08-31	6080996-01	ND
2016-09-01	6090011-01	ND
2016-09-02	6090073-01	ND
2016-09-06	6090143-01	ND
2016-09-07	6090140-01	ND
2016-09-12	6090296-01	ND
2016-09-13	6090312-01	ND
2016-09-14	6090375-01	ND
2016-09-16	6090445-01	ND
2016-09-20	6090538-01	ND
2016-09-29	6090786-01	ND
2016-09-30	6090820-01	ND
2016-10-02	6100019-01	ND
2016-10-04	6100044-01	ND
2016-10-04	6100090-01	ND
2016-10-11	6100292-01	ND
2016-10-13	6100396-01	ND
2016-10-13	6100397-01	ND
2016-10-14	6100423-01	ND
2016-10-17	6100458-01	ND
2016-10-20	6100579-01	ND
2016-10-26	6100762-01	ND
2016-11-01	6110001-01	ND
2016-11-07	6110205-01	ND
2016-11-15	6110447-01	ND
2016-11-22	6110704-01	ND
2016-12-01	6120005-01	ND
2016-12-07	6120217-01	ND
2016-12-13	6120413-01	ND
2017-01-03	7010004-01	ND
2017-01-04	7010035-01	ND
2017-01-25	7010597-01	ND
2017-02-08	7020222-01	ND
2017-02-22	7020604-01	ND
2017-03-07	7030170-01	ND
2017-03-21	7030492-01	ND
2017-04-04	7040044-01	ND
2017-04-19	7040528-01	ND
2017-05-02	7050055-01	ND
2017-05-24	7050850-01	ND
2017-06-07	7060198-01	ND
2017-07-12	7070319-01	ND
2017-07-18	7070474-01	ND
2017-08-10	7080399-01	ND
2017-08-23	7080831-01	ND
2017-09-06	7090097-01	ND
2017-09-20	7090610-01	ND
2017-10-03	7100033-01	ND
2017-10-25	7100771-01	ND
2017-11-07	7110292-01	ND
2017-11-28	7110898-01	ND
2017-12-05	7120104-01	ND
2017-12-20	7120618-01	ND
2018-01-05	8010087-01	ND
2018-01-23	8010580-01	ND
2018-02-20	8020601-01	ND
2018-03-20	8030594-01	ND
2018-04-03	8040026-01	ND
2018-04-24	8040844-01	ND
2018-05-08	8050333-01	ND
2018-05-22	8050940-01	ND
2018-06-11	8060408-01	ND
2018-07-03	8070076-01	ND
2018-07-24	8070946-01	ND
2018-08-07	8080232-01	ND
2018-08-28	8081162-01	ND
2018-09-04	8090030-01	ND
2018-09-18	8090645-01	ND
2018-10-09	8100388-01	ND
2018-10-25	8101080-01	ND
2018-11-08	8110318-01	ND
2018-11-28	8111004-02	ND
2018-11-28	8111004-01	ND
2018-12-12	8120388-01	ND
2018-12-19	8120656-01	ND
2019-01-23	9010787-01	ND
2019-02-05	9020077-01	ND
2019-02-20	9020715-01	ND
2019-03-12	9030419-01	ND
2019-03-26	9031011-01	ND
2019-04-04	9040248-01	ND
2019-04-18	9040829-01	ND
2019-05-15	9050674-01	ND
2019-06-11	9060360-01	ND
2019-06-28	9061186-01	ND
2019-07-17	9070836-01	ND
2019-08-06	9080180-01	ND
2019-08-28	9081407-01	ND
2019-09-10	9090396-01	ND
2019-09-19	9090873-01	ND
2019-10-09	9100436-01	ND
2019-10-22	9101022-01	ND
2019-12-11	9120440-01	ND