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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Trichloroethylene

Golden State Water Company (GSWC) - South San Gabriel

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.

 

46

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND110ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND120ND
2019ND120ND

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
2016-02-102706-046-1234ND
2016-03-092706-046-1040ND
2016-04-112706-046-1413ND
2016-05-122706-046-1239ND
2016-06-202706-046-1345ND
2016-07-112706-046-1047ND
2016-08-080007-046-1427ND
2016-09-122706-046-1426ND
2016-10-102706-046-1217ND
2016-11-072706-046-1228ND
2016-12-152706-046-1108ND
2017-01-099590-046-1354ND
2017-02-149590-046-1223ND
2017-03-139590-046-1342ND
2017-04-109590-046-1140ND
2017-05-089590-046-1304ND
2017-07-109590-046-1139ND
2017-08-079590-046-1022ND
2017-09-119590-046-1159ND
2017-10-099590-046-1122ND
2017-11-149590-046-1057ND
2017-12-119590-046-1308ND
2018-01-119590-046-1240ND
2018-02-129590-046-1249ND
2018-03-129590-046-1351ND
2018-04-119590-046-1321ND
2018-05-109590-046-1028ND
2018-06-129590-046-1157ND
2018-07-109590-046-1032ND
2018-08-139590-046-1114ND
2018-09-129590-046-1255ND
2018-10-269590-046-0935ND
2018-11-139590-046-1150ND
2018-12-109590-046-0926ND
2019-01-079590-046-1111ND
2019-02-129590-046-0920ND
2019-03-269590-046-1030ND
2019-04-089590-046-0917ND
2019-05-139590-046-1048ND
2019-06-109590-046-0958ND
2019-07-109590-046-1030ND
2019-08-129590-046-1234ND
2019-09-129590-046-1054ND
2019-10-299590-046-0914ND
2019-11-139590-046-0904ND
2019-12-099590-046-1254ND