Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 23

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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND30ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-01-11AE08956ND
2018-05-17AE26815ND
2018-07-12AE33153ND
2018-10-09AE42952ND
2019-01-31AE52467ND
2019-09-25AE84642ND
2019-11-07AE88933ND
2020-02-13AE98459ND
2020-08-13AF23542ND
2020-12-03AF36488ND
2021-03-09AF46016ND
2021-04-06AF49185ND
2021-08-12AF66123ND
2021-10-21AF74371ND
2022-02-03AF83333ND
2022-05-17AF97252ND
2022-07-21AG05793ND
2022-10-25AG18331ND
2023-01-12AG24446ND
2023-04-13AG36773ND
2023-08-17AG53066ND
2023-10-12AG59738ND