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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Northampton Bucks County Municipal Authority

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

 

93

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND230ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND210ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-02-25L4951922-1ND
2014-02-25L4951918-1ND
2014-05-20L4690565-1ND
2014-05-20L4799412-1ND
2014-07-17L5163463-2ND
2014-07-17L5163463-1ND
2014-07-17L5163463-13ND
2014-07-17L5163463-15ND
2014-07-17L5163463-14ND
2014-07-17L5163463-6ND
2014-07-17L5163463-12ND
2014-07-17L5163463-10ND
2014-07-17L5163463-11ND
2014-07-17L5163463-9ND
2014-07-17L5163463-8ND
2014-07-17L5163463-7ND
2014-07-17L5163463-4ND
2014-07-17L5163463-3ND
2014-07-17L5163463-5ND
2014-08-15L4460454-1ND
2014-08-15L4359849-1ND
2014-12-04L5352437-1ND
2014-12-04L5352436-1ND
2015-02-1012390437ND
2015-02-1012390491ND
2015-05-1112738493ND
2015-05-1112738439ND
2015-07-0913859382ND
2015-07-0913859328ND
2015-07-0913859436ND
2015-08-1913123835ND
2015-08-1913123889ND
2015-08-2813124410ND
2015-11-2013503537ND
2015-11-2013503591ND
2015-11-2013503483ND
2015-11-2013503429ND
2015-11-2013503375ND
2016-02-2313975164ND
2016-02-2313975111ND
2016-02-2313975058ND
2016-02-2313975005ND
2016-02-2313974952ND
2016-05-2414237912ND
2016-07-2114555723ND
2016-07-2114555775ND
2016-07-2114555671ND
2016-07-2114555619ND
2016-08-3014892515ND
2017-02-2715644179ND
2017-06-0716243968ND
2017-08-0116551931ND
2017-08-0116551983ND
2017-08-0116552087ND
2017-08-0116551775ND
2017-08-0116551827ND
2017-08-0116551879ND
2017-08-0116552035ND
2017-08-0116552139ND
2017-08-1716553165ND
2017-08-1716553009ND
2017-08-1716553269ND
2017-08-1716553061ND
2017-08-1716553113ND
2017-08-1716553217ND
2017-08-2416552825ND
2017-08-2416552877ND
2017-08-2416552721ND
2017-08-2416552929ND
2017-08-2416552773ND
2018-01-29L6996345-1ND
2018-05-228013250-02ND
2018-05-228013250-01ND
2018-07-238019104-04ND
2018-07-238019104-03ND
2018-07-238019104-02ND
2018-07-238019104-01ND
2018-08-278024440-05ND
2018-08-278024440-01ND
2018-11-208028289-05REND
2018-11-208028289-01ND
2019-02-269006185-05ND
2019-02-269006185-01ND
2019-04-299009352-01ND
2019-04-299010209-01ND
2019-04-299010209-04ND
2019-04-299010209-02ND
2019-04-299010209-03ND
2019-04-299009352-05ND
2019-07-179021348-01ND
2019-07-179021348-05ND
2019-10-089034544-05ND
2019-10-089034544-01ND