Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

Mountain Regional Water Special Service 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.

 

57

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

13

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
20190.0385 ppb131ND - 0.500 ppb
20200.338 ppb83ND - 1.10 ppb
20210.367 ppb63ND - 0.900 ppb
20220.121 ppb173ND - 0.900 ppb
20230.223 ppb83ND - 0.680 ppb

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 Result
2018-03-20ND
2018-06-06ND
2018-06-20ND
2018-08-23ND
2018-09-05ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-030.500 ppb
2019-01-03ND
2019-01-24ND
2019-01-24ND
2019-01-24ND
2019-02-25ND
2019-02-25ND
2019-02-25ND
2019-03-20ND
2019-04-18ND
2019-11-14ND
2020-02-27ND
2020-03-021.10 ppb
2020-07-14ND
2020-07-140.800 ppb
2020-09-150.800 ppb
2020-09-21ND
2020-12-04ND
2020-12-30ND
2021-03-16ND
2021-06-030.700 ppb
2021-06-08ND
2021-08-040.900 ppb
2021-12-080.600 ppb
2021-12-08ND
2022-02-170.560 ppb
2022-02-17ND
2022-02-17ND
2022-02-17ND
2022-05-04ND
2022-05-05ND
2022-05-05ND
2022-05-05ND
2022-08-040.900 ppb
2022-08-04ND
2022-08-04ND
2022-08-04ND
2022-08-04ND
2022-09-07ND
2022-12-06ND
2022-12-060.600 ppb
2022-12-07ND
2023-03-160.600 ppb
2023-06-210.500 ppb
2023-09-210.680 ppb
2023-11-06ND
2023-11-06ND
2023-11-06ND
2023-12-11ND
2023-12-11ND