Trichloroacetic acid
Waukesha 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 | 0.725 ppb | 2 | 2 | 0.700 ppb - 0.750 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.160 ppb | 2 | 1 | ND - 0.320 ppb |
| 2016 | 0.475 ppb | 2 | 2 | 0.460 ppb - 0.490 ppb |
| 2017 | 0.676 ppb | 3 | 3 | 0.541 ppb - 0.858 ppb |
| 2018 | 0.540 ppb | 2 | 2 | 0.390 ppb - 0.690 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.455 ppb | 2 | 2 | 0.420 ppb - 0.490 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-08-12 | 810526 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2014-08-12 | 810525 | 0.750 ppb |
| 2015-08-31 | 879612 | ND |
| 2015-08-31 | 879611 | 0.320 ppb |
| 2016-07-14 | 933377 | 0.460 ppb |
| 2016-07-14 | 933376 | 0.490 ppb |
| 2017-07-03 | 1707308-002B | 0.541 ppb |
| 2017-07-03 | 1707308-001B | 0.858 ppb |
| 2017-10-11 | 1023934 | 0.630 ppb |
| 2018-08-02 | 1071316 | 0.690 ppb |
| 2018-11-13 | 1092938 | 0.390 ppb |
| 2019-08-14 | 1141141 | 0.490 ppb |
| 2019-11-13 | 1160850 | 0.420 ppb |