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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

United Water Rahway

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

 

73

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND120ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND120ND
2019ND130ND

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
2014-01-064010154-04ND
2014-02-044020071-04ND
2014-03-044030106-04ND
2014-04-014040063-04ND
2014-05-064050210-04ND
2014-06-024060019-04ND
2014-07-024070083-04ND
2014-08-054080206-04ND
2014-09-024090068-04ND
2014-10-014100029-04ND
2014-11-044110128-04ND
2014-12-034120192-04ND
2015-01-082048865001ND
2015-02-042053608001ND
2015-03-032057625001ND
2015-04-072064326001ND
2015-05-072069816004ND
2015-06-092076067004ND
2015-07-062081457001ND
2015-08-102088901001ND
2015-09-082094547001ND
2015-10-062100355001ND
2015-11-092108071001ND
2015-12-022111153001ND
2016-01-112117774001ND
2016-02-082123461001ND
2016-03-082129590001ND
2016-04-042134709001ND
2016-05-092142323001ND
2016-06-032148847001ND
2016-07-252162441001ND
2016-08-082166270001ND
2016-09-062172944001ND
2016-10-112181833001ND
2016-11-072188181001ND
2016-12-092195131001ND
2017-01-067010175-04ND
2017-02-067020251-04ND
2017-03-097030313-04ND
2017-04-137040482-04ND
2017-05-037050241-04ND
2017-06-057060265-04ND
2017-07-067070145-04ND
2017-08-077080364-04ND
2017-09-057090127-04ND
2017-10-047100200-04ND
2017-11-177110665-04ND
2017-12-157120650-04ND
2018-01-098010322-04ND
2018-02-078020295-04ND
2018-03-068030252-03ND
2018-04-048040228-02ND
2018-05-018050127-03ND
2018-06-048060087-03ND
2018-07-028070223-03ND
2018-08-088080371-03ND
2018-09-058090147-03ND
2018-10-118100595-03ND
2018-11-148110569-03ND
2018-12-068120203-03ND
2019-01-049010110-03ND
2019-02-069020279-03ND
2019-03-089030319-03ND
2019-04-129040655-01ND
2019-05-149050675-02ND
2019-06-129060448-02ND
2019-06-279061126-01ND
2019-07-039070204-02ND
2019-08-099080462-02ND
2019-09-099090315-02ND
2019-10-079100313-02ND
2019-11-159110694-02ND
2019-12-129120552-02ND