Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

City of Moses Lake

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.

 

42

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

13

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20181.66 ppb52ND - 5.34 ppb
20191.92 ppb76ND - 4.06 ppb
2020N/A00N/A
20210.665 ppb62ND - 3.11 ppb
20220.0361 ppb181ND - 0.650 ppb
20230.560 ppb62ND - 1.69 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 Lab ID Result
2018-01-31ND
2018-04-03ND
2018-06-28ND
2018-09-115.34 ppb
2018-11-062.96 ppb
2019-03-260.650 ppb
2019-07-090.510 ppb
2019-07-294.06 ppb
2019-10-013.91 ppb
2019-11-122.71 ppb
2019-11-121.59 ppb
2019-12-03ND
2021-01-114063010ND
2021-06-1441303060.880 ppb
2021-07-274149446ND
2021-09-014178894ND
2021-10-064188764ND
2021-11-0842034583.11 ppb
2022-03-104258470ND
2022-03-104258471ND
2022-03-104258475ND
2022-03-154258473ND
2022-03-224266307ND
2022-03-224266302ND
2022-03-224266308ND
2022-03-224266306ND
2022-03-224266304ND
2022-03-224266303ND
2022-03-224266305ND
2022-03-224266301ND
2022-04-184274610ND
2022-06-0642988520.650 ppb
2022-06-134298844ND
2022-09-124338140ND
2022-09-124338139ND
2022-10-064356370ND
2023-06-2144803871.69 ppb
2023-06-214481116ND
2023-06-214480385ND
2023-06-214480386ND
2023-09-134512967ND
2023-09-1345129681.67 ppb