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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Aqua Pennsylvania Main System

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

182

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

10

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.0667 ppb331ND - 2.20 ppb
20150.197 ppb375ND - 2.20 ppb
20160.0657 ppb351ND - 2.30 ppb
20170.0258 ppb311ND - 0.800 ppb
20180.105 ppb211ND - 2.20 ppb
20190.0800 ppb251ND - 2.00 ppb

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
2014-01-06AE19666ND
2014-01-08AE19654ND
2014-01-08AE19653ND
2014-01-09AE19808ND
2014-01-09AE19814ND
2014-02-05AE22406ND
2014-02-06AE223952.20 ppb
2014-02-06AE22429ND
2014-02-19AE24127ND
2014-02-19AE24128ND
2014-02-19AE24152ND
2014-02-26AE23735ND
2014-04-14AE29526ND
2014-04-15AE29528ND
2014-04-15AE29507ND
2014-04-23AE29939ND
2014-04-23AE29914ND
2014-04-23AE29839ND
2014-04-23AE29840ND
2014-04-23AE29916ND
2014-04-24AE29947ND
2014-04-24AE29952ND
2014-07-21AE41025ND
2014-07-23AE41635ND
2014-07-23AE40895ND
2014-07-24AE40881ND
2014-07-24AE40886ND
2014-10-22AE53545ND
2014-10-22AE53537ND
2014-10-23AE53645ND
2014-10-23AE53646ND
2014-12-11AE59777ND
2014-12-29AE61209ND
2015-01-0512290024ND
2015-01-0712289946ND
2015-01-0712290039ND
2015-01-0712290062ND
2015-01-0712290081ND
2015-01-0812289956ND
2015-01-0812289991ND
2015-01-22122899252.20 ppb
2015-01-2312289998ND
2015-02-0312405402ND
2015-02-0312405528ND
2015-02-0412405360ND
2015-02-0412405381ND
2015-02-0412405423ND
2015-02-0412405444ND
2015-02-0412405465ND
2015-02-0412405486ND
2015-02-0412405507ND
2015-04-0612636861ND
2015-04-2212636882ND
2015-04-2312636819ND
2015-04-29126368401.40 ppb
2015-06-0312885168ND
2015-06-0412885147ND
2015-07-20130168120.500 ppb
2015-07-2213016578ND
2015-07-2213016599ND
2015-07-2313016536ND
2015-07-2313016557ND
2015-08-0513138450ND
2015-09-30132675651.50 ppb
2015-10-2113392026ND
2015-10-2213391963ND
2015-10-2213391984ND
2015-10-22133920051.70 ppb
2015-11-0213516764ND
2015-11-2313517519ND
2016-01-0613756203ND
2016-01-0613756224ND
2016-01-0613756308ND
2016-01-1113756161ND
2016-01-2013756140ND
2016-01-2013756182ND
2016-01-2113756077ND
2016-01-2113756098ND
2016-01-21137561192.30 ppb
2016-01-2813756245ND
2016-01-2813756266ND
2016-01-2813756287ND
2016-02-0513872916ND
2016-02-1013872937ND
2016-03-0313989330ND
2016-03-1513989372ND
2016-03-1713989351ND
2016-03-1813989393ND
2016-04-1114107132ND
2016-04-1114107153ND
2016-04-1114107174ND
2016-04-1114107216ND
2016-04-1114107237ND
2016-04-1414107195ND
2016-07-2914573693ND
2016-08-0214739173ND
2016-08-0414739102ND
2016-08-0414739123ND
2016-08-0414739142ND
2016-10-2415079391ND
2016-10-2415079412ND
2016-10-2415079433ND
2016-11-0715229347ND
2016-11-2115229368ND
2016-12-0115229912ND
2017-01-0315521175ND
2017-01-1615521217ND
2017-01-1815521112ND
2017-01-1815521133ND
2017-01-1815521196ND
2017-01-2415521154ND
2017-03-2815800264ND
2017-03-2915800285ND
2017-04-0315942282ND
2017-04-1215942324ND
2017-04-1715942219ND
2017-04-1715942240ND
2017-04-1915942261ND
2017-04-1915942303ND
2017-06-1916262184ND
2017-06-2016262205ND
2017-06-2016262226ND
2017-06-2116262247ND
2017-08-0716571182ND
2017-09-1516730774ND
2017-09-1816730711ND
2017-09-1816731945ND
2017-09-1916730732ND
2017-09-1916730753ND
2017-09-1916731861ND
2017-09-2016731882ND
2017-09-2016731903ND
2017-09-2016731924ND
2017-09-2716883585ND
2017-12-20171653200.800 ppb
2017-12-2117165347ND
2018-01-17AF74387ND
2018-01-29AF74797ND
2018-01-29AF74445ND
2018-01-29AF74447ND
2018-01-29AF74446ND
2018-01-29AF74448ND
2018-01-31AF74434ND
2018-01-31AF74435ND
2018-01-31AF744332.20 ppb
2018-01-31AF74431ND
2018-01-31AF74442ND
2018-01-31AF74441ND
2018-02-22AF74432ND
2018-02-26AF77278ND
2018-02-27AF77311ND
2018-02-27AF76921ND
2018-02-28AF77455ND
2018-02-28AF77456ND
2018-02-28AF77467ND
2018-03-26AF79915ND
2018-11-16AG01115ND
2019-01-28AG07059ND
2019-01-29AG07266ND
2019-03-04AG10320ND
2019-03-04AG10261ND
2019-03-06AG10532ND
2019-03-06AG10533ND
2019-03-06AG10552ND
2019-03-11AG104502.00 ppb
2019-03-13AG10482ND
2019-03-19AG10263ND
2019-03-19AG10265ND
2019-03-19AG10264ND
2019-03-26AG12576ND
2019-04-08AG13312ND
2019-04-08AG13600ND
2019-04-10AG12918ND
2019-04-24AG14544ND
2019-04-24AG14546ND
2019-05-06AG16471ND
2019-05-07AG16502ND
2019-05-30AG18878ND
2019-06-19AG20510ND
2019-10-16AG35352ND
2019-10-18AG36414ND
2019-10-23AG36111ND