Trichloroacetic acid
Madison Water Utility
Trichloroacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.305 ppb | 8 | 4 | ND - 0.770 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.278 ppb | 8 | 4 | ND - 0.800 ppb |
| 2016 | 0.178 ppb | 8 | 5 | ND - 0.580 ppb |
| 2017 | 0.406 ppb | 8 | 7 | ND - 0.700 ppb |
| 2018 | 0.258 ppb | 8 | 4 | ND - 0.560 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.315 ppb | 8 | 5 | ND - 0.720 ppb |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for trichloroacetic acid was proposed in 2020 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk.a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-22 | 767488 | ND |
| 2014-01-22 | 767487 | ND |
| 2014-04-22 | 782090 | 0.740 ppb |
| 2014-04-22 | 782091 | ND |
| 2014-07-15 | 803103 | 0.200 ppb |
| 2014-07-15 | 803104 | 0.770 ppb |
| 2014-10-14 | 825837 | ND |
| 2014-10-14 | 825838 | 0.730 ppb |
| 2015-01-20 | 839972 | ND |
| 2015-01-20 | 839971 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2015-04-21 | 855410 | ND |
| 2015-04-21 | 855409 | 0.670 ppb |
| 2015-07-21 | 872299 | ND |
| 2015-07-21 | 872302 | 0.380 ppb |
| 2015-10-20 | 890000 | 0.370 ppb |
| 2015-10-20 | 889999 | ND |
| 2016-01-19 | 902145 | ND |
| 2016-01-19 | 902146 | ND |
| 2016-04-19 | 916892 | ND |
| 2016-04-19 | 916889 | 0.260 ppb |
| 2016-07-19 | 934712 | 0.140 ppb |
| 2016-07-19 | 934714 | 0.240 ppb |
| 2016-10-18 | 954227 | 0.200 ppb |
| 2016-10-18 | 954228 | 0.580 ppb |
| 2017-01-24 | 970984 | 0.160 ppb |
| 2017-01-24 | 970985 | 0.550 ppb |
| 2017-04-18 | 984289 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2017-04-18 | 984288 | 0.270 ppb |
| 2017-07-18 | 1004684 | 0.240 ppb |
| 2017-07-18 | 1004685 | 0.690 ppb |
| 2017-10-17 | 1024701 | ND |
| 2017-10-17 | 1024700 | 0.640 ppb |
| 2018-01-17 | 1037650 | ND |
| 2018-01-17 | 1037649 | 0.560 ppb |
| 2018-04-17 | 3914791-92 | ND |
| 2018-04-17 | 3914789-90 | 0.500 ppb |
| 2018-07-17 | 3991853-54 | ND |
| 2018-07-17 | 3991851-52 | 0.500 ppb |
| 2018-10-16 | 4091546-47 | 0.500 ppb |
| 2018-10-16 | 4091548-49 | ND |
| 2019-01-16 | 1101693 | ND |
| 2019-01-16 | 1101692 | 0.510 ppb |
| 2019-04-16 | 1115555 | ND |
| 2019-04-16 | 1115556 | 0.580 ppb |
| 2019-07-16 | 1134761 | ND |
| 2019-07-16 | 1134760 | 0.720 ppb |
| 2019-10-15 | 1155280 | 0.230 ppb |
| 2019-10-15 | 1155279 | 0.480 ppb |