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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Hillcrest Water District

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

 

70

Samples

8

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

8

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20142.77 ppb132ND - 22.0 ppb
20152.57 ppb102ND - 16.0 ppb
20163.77 ppb154ND - 20.0 ppb
2017ND160ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND50ND

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
2014-02-11BG08460ND
2014-02-11BG08459POC22.0 ppb
2014-02-11BG08457POCND
2014-02-11BG08458POC14.0 ppb
2014-05-07BG41839POCND
2014-05-07BG41841POCND
2014-05-07BG41842POCND
2014-05-07BG41840POCND
2014-08-06BG89225POCND
2014-11-06BH37477ND
2014-11-06BH37474POCSND
2014-11-06BH37475POCSND
2014-11-06BH37476POCSND
2015-02-12BH73134ND
2015-02-12BH73137ND
2015-02-12BH73135ND
2015-05-13BJ16338POCSND
2015-05-13BJ16340ND
2015-05-13BJ16339POCSND
2015-08-12BJ73766POCS9.70 ppb
2015-08-12BJ73767POCS16.0 ppb
2015-08-12BJ73768POCSND
2015-08-12BJ73765POCSND
2016-02-10BK63950POCSND
2016-02-10BK63951POCSND
2016-02-10BK63949POCSND
2016-02-10BK63948PIOCSND
2016-05-18BN35054POCS20.0 ppb
2016-05-18BN35053POCS10.00 ppb
2016-05-18BN35055POCSND
2016-06-01BN45270POCSND
2016-08-17BN94009POCS18.0 ppb
2016-08-17BN940027POCSND
2016-08-17BN94008POCS8.50 ppb
2016-08-17BN94010POCSND
2016-11-10BV83350POCSND
2016-11-10BV83351POCSND
2016-11-15BV83352POCSND
2017-02-07BX70856POCSND
2017-02-17BX70858POCSND
2017-02-17BX70859POCSND
2017-02-17BX70857POCSND
2017-05-04BY15301POCSND
2017-05-04BY15299POCSND
2017-05-04BY15300ND
2017-05-04BY15302POCSND
2017-08-03BY78075POCSND
2017-08-03BY78076POCSND
2017-08-03BY78078POCSND
2017-08-03BY78077POCSND
2017-11-06BZ33103POCSND
2017-11-06BZ33104POCSND
2017-11-06BZ33105POCSND
2017-11-06BZ33102POCSND
2018-02-15BZ90401POCSND
2018-02-15BZ90402POCSND
2018-02-15BZ90403POCSND
2018-02-15BZ90400POCSND
2018-05-10CA44946POCSND
2018-05-10CA44947POCSND
2018-05-10CA44944POCSND
2018-05-10CA44945POCSND
2018-08-24CB18711POCSND
2018-08-24CB18710POCSND
2018-11-27CC03591POCSND
2019-02-20CC55434POCSND
2019-05-15CD15020POCSND
2019-08-19CD87714POCSND
2019-11-07CE56416POCSND
2019-11-19CE63530POCSND