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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Cedar Falls Acres Mobile Home Park

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.

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND10ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-09-04155134001ND
2014-12-11172425001ND
2015-03-24184915001ND
2015-06-24202048001ND
2015-09-14217339001ND
2015-12-17233338001ND
2016-03-28705337ND
2016-09-28281101001ND
2016-11-07287856001ND
2017-03-28306584001ND
2017-06-28325298001ND
2017-09-28345843001ND
2017-11-27356248001ND
2018-08-211075273ND
2018-12-26425684001ND
2019-09-26473087001ND