Trichloroethylene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2017-2019:
43
states detected
438
utilities detected
19 million
people served
30
states over health guideline
138
utilities over health guideline
1.9 million
people served over health guideline
1
states over legal limit
1
utilities over legal limit
32,230
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for trichloroethylene
Harm to the developing fetus
Harm to the immune system
Harm to the brain and nervous system
Hormone disruption
Harm to the reproductive system
Cancer
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
States reporting trichloroethylene in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 30 | 824,088 | 86 | 9,178,511 | |||
| New York | 12 | 206,953 | 51 | 2,098,240 | |||
| Arizona | 9 | 110,254 | 17 | 1,439,213 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 178,559 | 42 | 1,128,570 | |||
| Florida | 1 | 280 | 22 | 811,245 | |||
| Wisconsin | 4 | 47,857 | 19 | 470,778 | |||
| Minnesota | 4 | 75,192 | 17 | 415,122 | |||
| New Jersey | 3 | 22,370 | 22 | 368,956 | |||
| Idaho | 1 | 9,000 | 7 | 347,283 | |||
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 3 | 332,423 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 1 | 301,000 | |||
| Illinois | 7 | 87,526 | 12 | 261,776 | |||
| Alabama | 4 | 89,243 | 12 | 257,067 | |||
| Indiana | 1 | 140 | 5 | 240,042 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 2 | 156,200 | |||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 2 | 86,222 | |||
| Ohio | 2 | 17,331 | 11 | 84,680 | |||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 6 | 78,884 | |||
| Massachusetts | 5 | 57,280 | 7 | 75,790 | |||
| Washington | 8 | 26,198 | 15 | 60,509 | |||
| West Virginia | 6 | 35,912 | 12 | 50,944 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 43,888 | |||
| Hawaii | 1 | 37,920 | 1 | 37,920 | |||
| Oregon | 1 | 37,505 | 2 | 37,583 | |||
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25,570 | |||
| Missouri | 1 | 90 | 9 | 25,339 | |||
| North Carolina | 7 | 5,003 | 11 | 24,746 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 5 | 21,148 | |||
| South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 3 | 20,886 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17,946 | |||
| Texas | 3 | 9,373 | 4 | 15,081 | |||
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9,500 | |||
| Maryland | 1 | 1,921 | 3 | 8,621 | |||
| North Dakota | 1 | 6,585 | 1 | 6,585 | |||
| Kansas | 1 | 4,762 | 2 | 6,556 | |||
| South Carolina | 3 | 2,735 | 4 | 5,379 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4,178 | |||
| New Hampshire | 2 | 63 | 5 | 3,411 | |||
| Iowa | 1 | 3,008 | 1 | 3,008 | |||
| Virginia | 4 | 2,148 | 4 | 2,148 | |||
| Oklahoma | 1 | 2,086 | 1 | 2,086 | |||
| Montana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1,944 | |||
| Wyoming | 1 | 55 | 1 | 55 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce trichloroethylene
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of trichloroethylene, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Verne WD | La Verne, CA | 783 of 831 | 6.56 ppb | 32,230 |
| Valley View Estates | Macungie, PA | 21 of 21 | 3.99 ppb | 68 |
| Westgate Manufactured Townhome Community* | Midland, TX | 9 of 10 | 3.68 ppb | 318 |
| Wesley Acres No. 2 | Denver, NC | 10 of 11 | 3.47 ppb | 168 |
| Paw Homesite | Scranton, PA | 40 of 40 | 3.14 ppb | 63 |
| City Of Industry Waterworks Systems* | La Puente, CA | 80 of 81 | 3.09 ppb | 7,000 |
| Grafton Waterworks | Grafton, WI | 99 of 152 | 3.02 ppb | 11,745 |
| Lakewood Mobile Home Park | Columbia, SC | 45 of 45 | 2.84 ppb | 110 |
| El Monte Water Department | El Monte, CA | 193 of 586 | 2.84 ppb | 22,968 |
| Red Hill Water Authority* | East Greenville, PA | 28 of 34 | 2.77 ppb | 2,500 |
| Cal/am Water Company - Baldwin Hills | Rosemead, CA | 52 of 63 | 2.76 ppb | 18,397 |
| Green Meadow Estates Of Rockford Llc | Hillsborough, IL | 46 of 66 | 2.66 ppb | 970 |
| Loyalsock Mobile Home Park | South Williamsport, PA | 8 of 8 | 2.61 ppb | 85 |
| Maxatawny Township Municipal Authority | Kutztown, PA | 13 of 13 | 2.46 ppb | 425 |
| Parker Mobile Home Estates | Charlotte, VA | 7 of 8 | 2.38 ppb | 147 |
| City of Rialto | Rialto, CA | 310 of 627 | 2.24 ppb | 48,623 |
| Easthampton Water Department | Easthampton, MA | 55 of 81 | 2.10 ppb | 16,053 |
| Tract 180 Mutual Water Company | Cudahy, CA | 42 of 42 | 2.07 ppb | 14,000 |
| Maywood Mutual Water Company #3 | Maywood, CA | 30 of 54 | 1.89 ppb | 9,500 |
| Burlington Water Department | Burlington, MA | 4 of 41 | 1.88 ppb | 25,392 |
| Town of Hancock | Hancock, MD | 6 of 6 | 1.86 ppb | 1,921 |
| Weirton Area Water Board* | Weirton, WV | 9 of 10 | 1.80 ppb | 22,694 |
| Oakland Psd Golden Key Acres | Chester, WV | 9 of 10 | 1.80 ppb | 506 |
| Brooke County Psd | Wellsburg, WV | 9 of 10 | 1.80 ppb | 240 |
| Rocky Ridge S/d | Denver, NC | 6 of 6 | 1.78 ppb | 384 |
| Cedarburg L & W Commission | Cedarburg, WI | 50 of 137 | 1.72 ppb | 11,900 |
| Hillcrest Water District | Brewster, NY | 8 of 70 | 1.69 ppb | 305 |
| North Hornell Village | Hornell, NY | 71 of 152 | 1.68 ppb | 688 |
| Hornell City* | Hornell, NY | 71 of 152 | 1.68 ppb | 9,592 |
| Hornellsville Water D 1 (n. Main/seneca) | Arkport, NY | 71 of 152 | 1.68 ppb | 300 |
| Perkasie Regional Authority | Sellersville, PA | 17 of 57 | 1.63 ppb | 15,000 |
| Spring Grove | Spring Grove, MN | 16 of 19 | 1.62 ppb | 1,291 |
| Taconic Estates Water District | Hopewell Jctn, NY | 45 of 48 | 1.60 ppb | 115 |
| Lynwood Water Department | Lynwood, CA | 23 of 44 | 1.60 ppb | 71,297 |
| Locust Gardens Mobile Home Park | Lynchburg, VA | 4 of 4 | 1.58 ppb | 90 |
| Mcmechen Municipal Water* | Proctor, WV | 7 of 8 | 1.57 ppb | 2,212 |
| Marshall County Psd 1 | Wheeling, WV | 7 of 8 | 1.57 ppb | 3,463 |
| Bayport | Bayport, MN | 22 of 44 | 1.56 ppb | 2,600 |
| Cedar Grove S/d | Denver, NC | 5 of 11 | 1.45 ppb | 462 |
| Pineview S/d | Denver, NC | 6 of 6 | 1.45 ppb | 58 |
| Madison Water Works | Madison, AL | 5 of 15 | 1.43 ppb | 50,000 |
| Sidney Village | Sidney, NY | 72 of 83 | 1.40 ppb | 3,800 |
| Capitol Water Corporation | Boise, ID | 16 of 21 | 1.40 ppb | 9,000 |
| Old West Cabins | Jackson, WY | 7 of 7 | 1.39 ppb | 55 |
| Kipps Run Mobile Court | Barto, PA | 5 of 7 | 1.36 ppb | 19 |
| Marshall Waterworks | Warrenton, VA | 20 of 37 | 1.34 ppb | 1,728 |
| Chino Basin Desalter Authority - Desalter 1* | Ontario, CA | 142 of 540 | 1.34 ppb | 0 |
| Walnut Grove Utilities | Kearneysville, WV | 11 of 25 | 1.32 ppb | 6,797 |
| Amarillo Mutual Water Company | Rosemead, CA | 39 of 49 | 1.32 ppb | 3,134 |
| Cdcr-high Desert State Prison | Susanville, CA | 84 of 135 | 1.31 ppb | 9,132 |
* 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 Trichloroethylene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Verne WD | La Verne, CA | 783 of 831 | 6.56 ppb | 32,230 |
| Grafton Waterworks | Grafton, WI | 99 of 152 | 3.02 ppb | 11,745 |
| El Monte Water Department | El Monte, CA | 193 of 586 | 2.84 ppb | 22,968 |
| Cal/am Water Company - Baldwin Hills | Rosemead, CA | 52 of 63 | 2.76 ppb | 18,397 |
| City of Rialto | Rialto, CA | 310 of 627 | 2.24 ppb | 48,623 |
| Easthampton Water Department | Easthampton, MA | 55 of 81 | 2.10 ppb | 16,053 |
| Tract 180 Mutual Water Company | Cudahy, CA | 42 of 42 | 2.07 ppb | 14,000 |
| Burlington Water Department | Burlington, MA | 4 of 41 | 1.88 ppb | 25,392 |
| Weirton Area Water Board* | Weirton, WV | 9 of 10 | 1.80 ppb | 22,694 |
| Cedarburg L & W Commission | Cedarburg, WI | 50 of 137 | 1.72 ppb | 11,900 |
| Perkasie Regional Authority | Sellersville, PA | 17 of 57 | 1.63 ppb | 15,000 |
| Lynwood Water Department | Lynwood, CA | 23 of 44 | 1.60 ppb | 71,297 |
| Madison Water Works | Madison, AL | 5 of 15 | 1.43 ppb | 50,000 |
| Monrovia Water Department | Monrovia, CA | 1008 of 1,934 | 1.31 ppb | 36,590 |
| City of South Pasadena | South Pasadena, CA | 209 of 214 | 1.18 ppb | 25,899 |
| Oxford Water Works & Sewer Board* | Oxford, AL | 18 of 35 | 1.13 ppb | 28,401 |
| Cortland | Cortland, NY | 36 of 52 | 1.09 ppb | 20,095 |
| Emmaus Borough Public Water* | Emmaus, PA | 28 of 107 | 1.09 ppb | 14,000 |
| Holden Water Division, DPW | Holden, MA | 25 of 49 | 1.08 ppb | 17,106 |
| Cal/Am Water Company - San Marino | Rosemead, CA | 405 of 738 | 1.06 ppb | 40,804 |
| New Philadelphia City PWS | New Philadelphia, OH | 58 of 140 | 1.00 ppb | 17,288 |
| Menomonee Falls WW - Surface Water | Menomonee Falls, WI | 2 of 15 | 0.987 ppb | 23,867 |
| Cerritos - City, Water Department | Cerritos, CA | 20 of 37 | 0.968 ppb | 49,041 |
| City of Moses Lake | Moses Lake, WA | 10 of 31 | 0.865 ppb | 22,930 |
| Norwalk Water Department | Norwalk, CA | 34 of 67 | 0.864 ppb | 18,372 |
| Moorestown Water Department | Moorestown, NJ | 14 of 27 | 0.846 ppb | 20,700 |
| New York American Water - Merrick | Merrick, NY | 69 of 557 | 0.841 ppb | 177,000 |
| Crystal Lake | Crystal Lake, IL | 30 of 64 | 0.833 ppb | 40,743 |
| City of Arcadia | Arcadia, CA | 1045 of 1,752 | 0.794 ppb | 57,639 |
| North Park PWD* | Machesney Park, IL | 23 of 47 | 0.747 ppb | 35,518 |
| City of Keizer | Keizer, OR | 63 of 116 | 0.706 ppb | 37,505 |
| Flowing Wells Irrigation District | Tucson, AZ | 3 of 15 | 0.667 ppb | 16,000 |
| Pomona Water Department | Pomona, CA | 305 of 878 | 0.650 ppb | 151,713 |
| Compton Water Department | Compton, CA | 41 of 98 | 0.640 ppb | 81,963 |
| South Gate Water Department | South Gate, CA | 120 of 196 | 0.596 ppb | 96,057 |
| Goodyear Water Department* | Goodyear, AZ | 19 of 36 | 0.537 ppb | 50,001 |
| Whitehall Twp Authority | Whitehall, PA | 16 of 38 | 0.516 ppb | 13,063 |
| Schofield Barracks* | Schofield Barracks, HI | 14 of 24 | 0.504 ppb | 37,920 |
| Marina Coast Water District | Marina, CA | 68 of 159 | 0.492 ppb | 31,218 |
| City of Prescott* | Prescott, AZ | 4 of 25 | 0.440 ppb | 43,217 |
| Pennsylvania American Water Lake Scranton | Wilkes-barre, PA | 6 of 41 | 0.439 ppb | 134,570 |
| West Bend Waterworks | West Bend, WI | 37 of 77 | 0.436 ppb | 31,500 |
| Anderson Water Department | Anderson, IN | 8 of 17 | 0.435 ppb | 58,942 |
| Roswell Municipal Water System | Roswell, NM | 10 of 40 | 0.433 ppb | 53,892 |
| Garfield Water Department | Garfield, NJ | 30 of 83 | 0.424 ppb | 30,487 |
| Lincoln Avenue Water Company | Altadena, CA | 27 of 97 | 0.406 ppb | 16,000 |
| City of Modesto | Modesto, CA | 59 of 307 | 0.405 ppb | 212,000 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 4 of 4 | 0.400 ppb | 81,760 |
| Grafton Water District* | Grafton, MA | 4 of 55 | 0.397 ppb | 10,703 |
| City of Chino Hills | Chino Hills, CA | 1 of 9 | 0.389 ppb | 75,655 |
* 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 Trichloroethylene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.