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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Waterville Fire District 1

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

 

55

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND110ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND350ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND10ND
2019N/A00N/A

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
2014-05-1314V00186ND
2014-07-0915V00005ND
2014-09-30SB97478-09ND
2014-09-30SB97478-08ND
2014-09-30SB97478-07ND
2014-09-30SB97478-06ND
2014-09-30SB97478-05ND
2014-09-30SB97478-04ND
2014-09-30SB97478-03ND
2014-09-30SB97478-01ND
2014-11-1215V00134ND
2015-03-0515V00177ND
2015-04-2015V00191ND
2015-07-0716V00004ND
2015-10-2916V00063ND
2016-02-2216V00099ND
2016-05-2416V00136ND
2016-06-23SC22991-22ND
2016-06-23SC22991-20ND
2016-06-23SC22991-19ND
2016-06-23SC22991-18ND
2016-06-23SC22991-17ND
2016-06-23SC22991-16ND
2016-06-23SC22991-15ND
2016-06-23SC22991-14ND
2016-06-23SC22991-13ND
2016-06-23SC22991-12ND
2016-09-16SC26197-07ND
2016-09-19SC26197-10ND
2016-09-19SC26197-09ND
2016-09-19SC26197-06ND
2016-09-19SC26197-05ND
2016-09-19SC26197-04ND
2016-09-19SC26197-03ND
2016-09-19SC26197-02ND
2016-09-19SC26197-01ND
2016-10-2817V00052ND
2016-12-15SC29638-10ND
2016-12-15SC29638-01ND
2016-12-15SC29638-02ND
2016-12-15SC29638-04ND
2016-12-15SC29638-05ND
2016-12-15SC29638-06ND
2016-12-15SC29638-07ND
2016-12-15SC29638-08ND
2016-12-15SC29638-09ND
2016-12-15SC29638-11ND
2016-12-15SC29638-12ND
2016-12-15SC29638-13ND
2016-12-2117V00066ND
2017-01-161701-01291-004ND
2017-01-161701-01291-001ND
2017-05-161705-10340-002ND
2017-05-161705-10340-001ND
2018-06-271806-15203-001ND