Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

Whitworth Water District 2

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.

 

29

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

5

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.710 ppb110.710 ppb
20190.0500 ppb131ND - 0.650 ppb
2020N/A00N/A
20210.197 ppb31ND - 0.590 ppb
20220.0518 ppb111ND - 0.570 ppb
20230.590 ppb110.590 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
2018-03-200.710 ppb
2019-04-18ND
2019-04-180.650 ppb
2019-04-18ND
2019-04-18ND
2019-05-09ND
2019-05-21ND
2019-05-21ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-05-28ND
2019-06-18ND
2019-06-21ND
2021-03-1840940880.590 ppb
2021-07-084138074ND
2021-10-284196693ND
2022-01-244236842ND
2022-03-3142616100.570 ppb
2022-04-214272384ND
2022-04-214272380ND
2022-05-184288406ND
2022-06-274309802ND
2022-06-274309800ND
2022-07-144309808ND
2022-07-144309809ND
2022-07-144309807ND
2022-10-114356380ND
2023-04-2744521700.590 ppb