Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

CONTAMINANT

Trichlorotrifluoroethane

STATES DETECTED

5

serves

835,000

utilities detected

17

states detected

0

serves

0

utilities detected

0

Overview

Trichlorotrifluoroethane (Freon 113) is a refrigerant, solvent and aerosol propellant banned in 2000 under the Montreal Protocol because of its ozone-depleting properties. Freons can cause heart, nervous system and liver damage.

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 4,000 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 4,000 ppb for trichlorotrifluoroethane was defined 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. This health guideline protects against harm to internal organs.

ppb = parts per billion

National Standard Exists

Health Concerns:

  • Harm to the liver

  • Change to the central nervous system

  • Harm to the heart and blood vessels

understand filter technology

Trichlorotrifluoroethane around the Country

UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State Utilities People Served
New York5308,522
Wisconsin7274,593
California3219,279
Utah132,100
Minnesota159

Utilities with the highest amounts of trichlorotrifluoroethane, 2021-2023

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
Utility Location Tests Average level People served
Magna Water DistrictMagna, UT25 of 288.76 ppb32,100
San Bernardino Valley Water District*San Bernardino, CA1 of 35.00 ppb109,608
Stevens Point WaterworksStevens Point, WI1 of 11.20 ppb24,551
Greenlawn WDGreenlawn, NY1 of 10.700 ppb42,000
Dix Hills Water DistrictHuntington, NY2 of 20.513 ppb34,522
Franklin Square WDFranklin Square, NY67 of 1930.434 ppb20,000
Yuima Municipal Water District Ida*Pauma Valley, CA3 of 180.339 ppb769
Austin Mobile Home ParkAustin, MN1 of 10.330 ppb59
Grafton WaterworksGrafton, WI22 of 760.302 ppb11,745
Great Oaks Water Company Inc.*San Jose, CA1 of 280.107 ppb108,902
Liberty New York Water - MerrickMerrick, NY20 of 2620.0575 ppb177,000
Plainview WDPlainview, NY3 of 2670.0117 ppb35,000
Madison Water Utility*Madison, WI1 of 630.00857 ppb235,000
Maple Bluff WaterworksMadison, WI1 of 630.00857 ppb1,342
Shorewood Hills WaterworksMadison, WI1 of 630.00857 ppb1,670
Rimrock Road NeighborhoodFitchburg, WI1 of 630.00857 ppb135
Danville Drive Service AreaFitchburg, WI1 of 630.00857 ppb150

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Trichlorotrifluoroethane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Magna Water DistrictMagna, UT25 of 288.76 ppb32,100
San Bernardino Valley Water District*San Bernardino, CA1 of 35.00 ppb109,608
Stevens Point WaterworksStevens Point, WI1 of 11.20 ppb24,551
Greenlawn WDGreenlawn, NY1 of 10.700 ppb42,000
Dix Hills Water DistrictHuntington, NY2 of 20.513 ppb34,522
Franklin Square WDFranklin Square, NY67 of 1930.434 ppb20,000
Grafton WaterworksGrafton, WI22 of 760.302 ppb11,745
Great Oaks Water Company Inc.*San Jose, CA1 of 280.107 ppb108,902
Liberty New York Water - MerrickMerrick, NY20 of 2620.0575 ppb177,000
Plainview WDPlainview, NY3 of 2670.0117 ppb35,000
Madison Water Utility*Madison, WI1 of 630.00857 ppb235,000

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Trichlorotrifluoroethane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

Know the Standards

Understand EWG’s guidelines on contaminants in your water.

view ewg’s standards

Take Action

Interested in supporting other causes? Learn more about our ongoing campaigns and how you can make a difference.

LEARN MORE

Need help finding a filter?

Discover top-rated filters that protect your family from harmful contaminants.

GET THE GUIDE

We’re in this together

Donate today and join the fight to protect our environmental health.

DONATE TODAY

Protect your water

Sign our petition to protect PFAS drinking water standards

TAKE ACTION