Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Trichloroethylene

New Lisbon Waterworks

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.

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35

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

24

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.263 ppb84ND - 0.680 ppb
20190.512 ppb54ND - 0.680 ppb
20200.436 ppb53ND - 0.830 ppb
20210.753 ppb65ND - 1.000 ppb
20221.02 ppb54ND - 1.50 ppb
20230.850 ppb64ND - 1.60 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
2018-03-13989351ND
2018-03-219921440.680 ppb
2018-04-111045170.460 ppb
2018-04-11104518ND
2018-07-18151823ND
2018-07-181518250.540 ppb
2018-10-10192848ND
2018-10-101928510.420 ppb
2019-03-27257539ND
2019-03-272575040.550 ppb
2019-06-192954660.680 ppb
2019-08-073136110.660 ppb
2019-12-033665720.670 ppb
2020-05-20421987ND
2020-05-20421989ND
2020-05-204219880.740 ppb
2020-08-264666140.830 ppb
2020-12-025105280.610 ppb
2021-03-175427330.830 ppb
2021-03-175427330.830 ppb
2021-05-1210054530.860 ppb
2021-07-281031721ND
2021-07-2810317221.000 ppb
2021-10-2710668771.000 ppb
2022-02-1611014831.20 ppb
2022-06-2211565621.30 ppb
2022-08-161214111ND
2022-08-1612141101.10 ppb
2022-11-1612648991.50 ppb
2023-02-081288229ND
2023-02-081288227ND
2023-02-0812882281.60 ppb
2023-05-3113300791.20 ppb
2023-07-1913504231.20 ppb
2023-11-2814017381.10 ppb