Trichloroacetic acid
Germantown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2015 | 0.290 ppb | 2 | 1 | ND - 0.580 ppb |
| 2016 | 0.0950 ppb | 2 | 1 | ND - 0.190 ppb |
| 2017 | 0.385 ppb | 2 | 2 | 0.300 ppb - 0.470 ppb |
| 2018 | 0.162 ppb | 2 | 2 | 0.0840 ppb - 0.240 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.195 ppb | 2 | 1 | ND - 0.390 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-08-31 | 879671 | ND |
| 2015-08-31 | 879672 | 0.580 ppb |
| 2016-07-21 | 934986 | ND |
| 2016-07-21 | 934987 | 0.190 ppb |
| 2017-07-19 | 1005611 | 0.300 ppb |
| 2017-07-19 | 1005610 | 0.470 ppb |
| 2018-08-13 | 1073526 | 0.0840 ppb |
| 2018-08-13 | 1073527 | 0.240 ppb |
| 2019-07-15 | 1134579 | ND |
| 2019-07-15 | 1134580 | 0.390 ppb |