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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Philadelphia Water Department

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

 

81

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND150ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND150ND
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
2014-02-12DW140212-000ND
2014-02-12DW140212-001ND
2014-02-12DW140212-003ND
2014-05-147463348ND
2014-05-147468948ND
2014-05-147463350ND
2014-05-147468950ND
2014-05-147468949ND
2014-05-147463349ND
2014-08-137570046ND
2014-08-137570047ND
2014-08-137570048ND
2014-11-19DW141119-002ND
2014-11-19DW141119-038ND
2014-11-19DW141119-019ND
2015-02-1112406540ND
2015-02-1112406500ND
2015-02-1112406520ND
2015-05-1312754292ND
2015-05-1312754312ND
2015-05-1312754272ND
2015-08-1213140299ND
2015-08-1213140319ND
2015-08-1213140279ND
2015-11-1813518620ND
2015-11-1813518640ND
2015-11-1813518600ND
2016-02-1013874734ND
2016-02-1013874714ND
2016-02-1013874694ND
2016-05-1114257195ND
2016-05-1114257235ND
2016-05-1114257215ND
2016-08-1014741976ND
2016-08-1014742016ND
2016-08-1014741996ND
2016-11-0915231752ND
2016-11-0915231712ND
2016-11-0915231732ND
2017-02-0815662029ND
2017-02-0815662009ND
2017-02-0815661989ND
2017-05-1016101792ND
2017-05-1016101812ND
2017-05-1016100852ND
2017-05-1016100812ND
2017-05-1016101772ND
2017-05-1016100832ND
2017-08-0916572505ND
2017-08-0916572525ND
2017-08-0916572485ND
2017-11-0817029199ND
2017-11-0817029219ND
2017-11-0817029179ND
2018-02-07DW180207-019ND
2018-02-07DW180207-037ND
2018-02-07DW180207-002ND
2018-05-09DW180509-019ND
2018-05-09DW180509-002ND
2018-05-09DW180509-035ND
2018-08-08DW180808-002ND
2018-08-088083919-01ND
2018-08-088083919-02ND
2018-08-08DW180808-019ND
2018-08-088083919-03ND
2018-08-08DW180808-035ND
2018-11-07DW181107-002ND
2018-11-07DW181107-018ND
2018-11-08DW181108-038ND
2019-02-13DW190213-034ND
2019-02-13DW190213-018ND
2019-02-13DW190213-002ND
2019-05-15DW190515-035ND
2019-05-15DW190515-019ND
2019-05-15DW190515-002ND
2019-08-149084421-06ND
2019-08-149084421-07ND
2019-08-149084421-08ND
2019-11-13DW191113-019ND
2019-11-13DW191113-035ND
2019-11-13DW191113-002ND