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ABSTRACTThe paper reviews background data on chlorinated solvents and all published data on chlorinated solvents in UK groundwaters. New data from an aquifer‐wide survey of the organic water quality of the Birmingham aquifer (carried out by the University of Birmingham and the Water Research Centre (WRc)) show that contamination by chlorinated solvents is extensive and is greater than that observed in previously published UK studies. Trichloroethylene contamination is particularly apparent in the Birmingham aquifer, with 40% of the boreholes sampled containing waters above the new UK limit for this contaminant. Fortunately the Birmingham aquifer is not used for public supply. Land use and hydrogeological factors are shown to influence the contamination observed in particular boreholes. The difficulties associated with locating contaminated zones in aquifers, due to the immiscible flow of chlorinated solvents, are indicated. It is concluded that the occurrence of chlorinated solvents in groundwaters makes a significant contribution to the poor water quality of many UK aquifers that underlie, or are close to, urban and industrial areas.