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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

New York American Water - Sea Cliff

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

 

105

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND170ND
2015ND190ND
2016ND200ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND160ND
2019ND180ND

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
2014-02-041402068-001-POCSND
2014-03-06103383-003-POCSND
2014-03-061403383-001-POCSND
2014-03-061403383-003-POCSND
2014-04-0204187-001-POCSND
2014-04-021404187-001-POCSND
2014-04-021404187-003-POCSND
2014-05-071405474-001-POCSND
2014-06-101406727-001-POCSND
2014-07-081407443-001-POCSND
2014-07-081407443-003-POCSND
2014-08-05140828-001-POCSND
2014-09-081409505-001-POCSND
2014-10-071410466-001-POCSND
2014-10-071410466-003-POCSND
2014-11-121411766-001-POCSND
2014-12-021412131-001-POCSND
2015-01-051501102-003-POCSND
2015-01-051501102-001-POCSND
2015-02-041502203-001-POCSND
2015-03-031503130-001-POCSND
2015-04-081504541-001-POCSND
2015-05-071505554-001-POCSND
2015-05-071505537-001-POCSND
2015-05-201505E69-001-POCSND
2015-06-151506B92-001-POCSND
2015-07-081507488-001ND
2015-07-081507488-003ND
2015-08-051508310-001 POCSND
2015-09-151509A69-001ND
2015-09-151509A69-003ND
2015-10-061510358-001ND
2015-10-061510358-003ND
2015-11-091511661-003ND
2015-11-091511661-001ND
2015-12-021512184-001ND
2016-01-111601562-001ND
2016-01-261601G80-001ND
2016-03-011603105-001ND
2016-03-011603105-003ND
2016-04-061604546-001ND
2016-04-061604546-003ND
2016-05-031605198-001ND
2016-05-031605198-003ND
2016-06-081606789-003ND
2016-06-081606789-001ND
2016-07-061607433-001ND
2016-07-061607433-003ND
2016-08-021608166-002ND
2016-08-021608166-005ND
2016-09-071609450-003ND
2016-09-071609450-001ND
2016-10-04701176002ND
2016-10-06701359002ND
2016-11-02703523001ND
2016-12-06706116001ND
2017-01-04708295001ND
2017-02-077010806001ND
2017-03-077012749001ND
2017-04-047014847001ND
2017-04-247016671002ND
2017-05-027017429001ND
2017-06-067020461001ND
2017-06-137021163001ND
2017-07-057023139001ND
2017-07-057023139003ND
2017-08-017025787002ND
2017-09-057028919001ND
2017-10-027031587001ND
2017-11-077035028001ND
2017-12-057037238001ND
2018-01-097039910001ND
2018-02-087042474001ND
2018-03-067044573001ND
2018-04-037047080001ND
2018-05-017050134001ND
2018-06-057053754001ND
2018-07-037057077001ND
2018-07-037057077003ND
2018-08-027060231001ND
2018-08-027060231003ND
2018-08-077060647001ND
2018-09-047063575001ND
2018-10-027066538001ND
2018-10-097067280001ND
2018-11-287072200001ND
2018-12-197074419001ND
2019-01-157076606003ND
2019-01-157076606001ND
2019-02-057078364002ND
2019-03-197082788001ND
2019-04-027084234003ND
2019-04-027084234001ND
2019-05-147089462004ND
2019-05-147089462001ND
2019-06-037091767001ND
2019-07-097096833001ND
2019-07-097096833003ND
2019-08-057099950003ND
2019-08-057099950001ND
2019-09-0370103523003ND
2019-09-0370103523001ND
2019-10-0270106994001ND
2019-10-2370109466001ND
2019-11-2570113095001ND