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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Friendship Distribution Water

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

 

129

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

3

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
20150.450 ppb21ND - 0.900 ppb
20160.0644 ppb432ND - 1.64 ppb
2017ND760ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

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 Result
2015-09-090.900 ppb
2015-11-09ND
2016-01-13ND
2016-04-07ND
2016-06-291.13 ppb
2016-08-041.64 ppb
2016-08-16ND
2016-08-22ND
2016-09-01ND
2016-09-06ND
2016-09-12ND
2016-09-15ND
2016-09-19ND
2016-09-22ND
2016-09-26ND
2016-09-29ND
2016-10-03ND
2016-10-06ND
2016-10-12ND
2016-10-13ND
2016-10-14ND
2016-10-17ND
2016-10-18ND
2016-10-19ND
2016-10-20ND
2016-10-25ND
2016-10-27ND
2016-10-31ND
2016-11-02ND
2016-11-08ND
2016-11-10ND
2016-11-15ND
2016-11-17ND
2016-11-22ND
2016-11-24ND
2016-11-29ND
2016-12-01ND
2016-12-06ND
2016-12-08ND
2016-12-13ND
2016-12-15ND
2016-12-20ND
2016-12-22ND
2016-12-27ND
2016-12-29ND
2017-01-03ND
2017-01-05ND
2017-01-10ND
2017-01-12ND
2017-01-17ND
2017-01-19ND
2017-01-24ND
2017-01-26ND
2017-01-31ND
2017-02-02ND
2017-02-04ND
2017-02-09ND
2017-02-14ND
2017-02-16ND
2017-02-21ND
2017-02-23ND
2017-03-02ND
2017-03-02ND
2017-03-14ND
2017-03-16ND
2017-03-21ND
2017-03-23ND
2017-03-28ND
2017-03-30ND
2017-04-04ND
2017-04-06ND
2017-04-11ND
2017-04-13ND
2017-04-18ND
2017-04-20ND
2017-04-25ND
2017-04-27ND
2017-05-02ND
2017-05-04ND
2017-05-09ND
2017-05-11ND
2017-05-16ND
2017-05-18ND
2017-05-23ND
2017-05-25ND
2017-05-30ND
2017-06-01ND
2017-06-06ND
2017-06-08ND
2017-06-13ND
2017-06-15ND
2017-06-20ND
2017-06-22ND
2017-06-27ND
2017-06-29ND
2017-07-04ND
2017-07-06ND
2017-07-11ND
2017-07-13ND
2017-07-18ND
2017-07-20ND
2017-07-31ND
2017-08-02ND
2017-08-15ND
2017-08-17ND
2017-08-22ND
2017-08-24ND
2017-08-29ND
2017-08-31ND
2017-09-12ND
2017-09-14ND
2017-09-19ND
2017-09-21ND
2017-09-26ND
2017-09-28ND
2017-10-02ND
2017-10-02ND
2017-10-10ND
2017-10-12ND
2017-10-17ND
2017-10-19ND
2018-03-29ND
2018-06-07ND
2018-09-13ND
2018-11-15ND
2019-01-24ND
2019-04-18ND
2019-08-08ND
2019-10-17ND