VOCs & pesticides

Trichloroethylene in U.S. tap water

109 public water systems across 12 U.S. states report Trichloroethylene in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 3 sit at or above the federal limit.

109
systems measuring
3
over the limit
12
states represented

What it is

An industrial solvent (TCE) used in metal degreasing.

Why it's regulated

A known human carcinogen; long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the liver.

Federal limit5 ug/L· MCL

At or above the federal limit (3)

Water systemMeasured
California Domestic Water Company — Whittier, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
20.9 ug/L
California Domestic Water Company — Whittier, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
18.6 ug/L
La Verne, City Wd — La Verne, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
0–16 ug/L

Within the federal limit (106)

Water systemMeasured
Cal/am Water Company - Baldwin Hills — Rosemead, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
3.5 ug/L
Pomona, CA
2024 annual report
0–2.7 ug/L
Rowland Water District — Rowland Heights, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0–2.7 ug/L
Cal/am Water Company - Baldwin Hills — Rosemead, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
2.4 ug/L
City of Arcadia — Arcadia, Ca, CA
2022 annual report
0–2.4 ug/L
Page Avenue Mutual Water Company — Fullerton, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
1.7–2.4 ug/L
Cal/am Water Company - Baldwin Hills — Rosemead, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
1.9 ug/L
City of South Pasadena — South Pasadena, Ca, CA
2022 annual report
0.83–1.8 ug/L
Maywood Mutual Water Co. #3 — Maywood, Ca, CA
2022 annual report
1.7 ug/L
La Verne, City Wd — La Verne, Ca, CA
2022 annual report
0–1.6 ug/L
Tract 180 Mutual Water Co. — Cudahy, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
1.6 ug/L
City of Arcadia — Arcadia, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
0–1.5 ug/L
Maywood Mutual Water Co. #3 — Maywood, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
1.5 ug/L
Rowland Water District — Rowland Heights, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
0–1.5 ug/L
Tract 180 Mutual Water Co. — Cudahy, Ca, CA
2022 annual report
1.5 ug/L
Norwalk - City, Water Dept. — Norwalk, Ca, CA
2022 annual report
1.4 ug/L
Rockford, IL
2024 annual report
0–1.4 ug/L
Tacoma, WA
2024 annual report
1.4 ug/L
Goodyear, AZ
2024 annual report
1.3 ug/L
Maywood Mutual Water Co. #3 — Maywood, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
1.3 ug/L
Monrovia-city, Water Dept. — Monrovia, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
1.3 ug/L
Rowland Water District — Rowland Heights, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
0–1.3 ug/L
City of Arcadia — Arcadia, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0–1.2 ug/L
Rowland Water District — Rowland Heights, Ca, CA
2022 annual report
0–1.2 ug/L
Tucson, AZ
2024 annual report
1.16 ug/L
Lynwood Park Mutual Water Co. — Compton, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
1.1 ug/L
Suburban Water Systems - Sativa — Covina, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
0.9 ug/L
Lynwood-city, Water Dept. — Lynwood, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.84 ug/L
Ontario, CA
2024 annual report
0.78 ug/L
Los Angeles Cwwd 36-val Verde — Alhambra, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.7 ug/L
Tempe, AZ
2024 annual report
0–0.7 ug/L
Cerritos - City, Water Dept. — Cerritos, Ca, CA
2022 annual report
0.67 ug/L
Sierra Madre-city, Water Dept. — Sierra Madre, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
0.64 ug/L
Cerritos - City, Water Dept. — Cerritos, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
0.63 ug/L
City of Arcadia — Arcadia, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
0–0.6 ug/L
Suburban Water Systems-whittier — Covina, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.6 ug/L
Pico Wd — Pico Rivera, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
0.57 ug/L
Las Cruces, NM
2024 annual report
0.54 ug/L
Mesa, AZ
2024 annual report
0.54 ug/L
Norwalk - City, Water Dept. — Norwalk, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
0.42 ug/L
Compton-city, Water Dept. — Compton, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.4 ug/L
Lynwood Park Mutual Water Co. — Compton, Ca, CA
2020 annual report
0.4 ug/L
South Gate-city, Water Dept. — South Gate, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.4 ug/L
Suburban Water Systems-la Mirada — Covina, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.4 ug/L
Suburban Water Systems-san Jose — Covina, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.4 ug/L
San Bernardino Valley Wd — San Bernardino, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0–0.31 ug/L
West Valley Water District — Rialto, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0–0.31 ug/L
Monrovia-city, Water Dept. — Monrovia, Ca, CA
2021 annual report
0.3 ug/L
City of Fresno — Fresno, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.23 ug/L
San Gabriel County Wd — Rosemead, Ca, CA
2023 annual report
0.2 ug/L

Showing 50 of 106. The full list is in the JSON API.

Frequently asked

+What is Trichloroethylene?

An industrial solvent (TCE) used in metal degreasing. A known human carcinogen; long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the liver.

+What is the federal limit for Trichloroethylene in drinking water?

The federal MCL for Trichloroethylene is 5 ug/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (typically a running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.

+How many U.S. water systems have Trichloroethylene over the federal limit?

3 of the 109 public water systems on The Water Map report Trichloroethylene at or above its federal limit, spanning 12 U.S. states. The full list is on this page.

+How can I check if Trichloroethylene is in my city's tap water?

Search your city on The Water Map (https://www.thewatermap.com/) or browse the list on this page. Every U.S. public water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report that lists every contaminant it measured, including Trichloroethylene.

See Trichloroethylene on the map

Color-coded by status across the whole country.

Open the map →