1. Landfill Leachate, Degreasing Sites, and Consumer Products as Sources in El Paso County
In El Paso County, the cyclic ether known as 1,4-dioxane commonly enters surface waters that supply public water systems through a few main pathways. Landfill leachate can release this solvent stabiliser as it migrates from disposed chemical-containing wastes. Industrial degreasing operations sometimes contribute trace amounts of dioxane to nearby surface water bodies, where it can persist due to its chemical stability. Additionally, consumer products like certain detergents and cosmetics often contain 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct or ingredient, leading to low-level environmental presence when these products enter wastewater streams. These combined influences shape the profile seen in monitoring results for the Colorado Springs Utilities system serving El Paso County.
2. Reporting 1,4-Dioxane at Low Levels: Precision to Three Decimal Places
The EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) data for Colorado Springs Utilities reports 1,4-dioxane measurements with a detection limit of 0.07 micrograms per liter (µg/L), equivalent to 0.07 parts per billion (ppb). The use of three decimal places in presenting these figures reflects the laboratory instruments’ ability to measure down to this detection threshold. A value below 0.07 µg/L signifies that the concentration was either not detected or too low for precise quantification, not a violation or unsafe level. This high degree of precision helps distinguish trace presence from background noise in the data.
3. Definitions of Detected, Median, and Range in El Paso County’s Sampling Record
The sampling record for 1,4-dioxane in the Colorado Springs Utilities system indicates zero results above the 0.07 µg/L reporting level among 18 samples taken between 2013 and 2015. Here, “detected” means a laboratory measurement exceeded the minimum reporting threshold, which did not occur for this contaminant. The median value is the middle number when all measurements are ordered, used to represent typical concentration levels. The range indicates the lowest to highest values found. For this cyclic ether, the median and range are effectively below detection, showing consistently very low environmental presence in the system's surface waters.
4. Sample Size and Source Diversity in El Paso County’s Water Quality Data
The 18 water samples under review originate from a surface water source that feeds the Colorado Springs Utilities system, serving over 460,000 residents through 151,608 connections. While this dataset covers multiple locations and dates, it remains a sample subset rather than continuous monitoring. A small number of samples means occasional fluctuations in trace constituents like 1,4-dioxane might not be fully captured. For homeowners, confirming their own water’s 1,4-dioxane concentration requires testing at the point of use, as local plumbing and household water use patterns can affect exposure.
5. Plumbing Material and Age as Factors Distinct from Source Water Quality
Although the public water system’s surface water source shows nondetect levels of 1,4-dioxane on record, household water quality can be influenced by plumbing materials and infrastructure age. Unlike metals or compounds introduced through pipe corrosion or degradation, dioxane’s presence primarily depends on source water quality. However, older plumbing may affect other water quality aspects, and any household-level testing should account for these separate influences when interpreting results for this and other contaminants.
6. Interpreting Median and Range for a Household in El Paso County
Given that no measurements exceeded 0.07 µg/L (0.07 ppb), a typical homeowner drawing water from the Colorado Springs Utilities supply can expect 1,4-dioxane levels at or below this detection threshold, based on the federal occurrence survey. "Median" near or below detection means half the samples measured no measurable dioxane. The "range" from nondetect to nondetect confirms consistent absence of measurable amounts rather than a wide fluctuation. To understand household-specific levels precisely, direct testing of tap water is necessary, especially considering possible local influences beyond the public supply.
While 1,4-dioxane currently has no federally enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL), EPA’s cancer risk reference concentration is 0.35 µg/L (0.35 ppb), higher than the detection limit used. This provides context for the low-level detections recorded. For those seeking additional assurance or mitigation, the C-Series 1,4-Dioxane Filter ships ready to configure for residential use, employing technology designed specifically to address this cyclic ether in household water.
These observations summarize the 2013–2015 monitoring record for the Colorado Springs Utilities public water system's surface water source in El Paso County. For complete details on water quality monitoring and regulatory context, consult the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System public water system record for Colorado Springs Utilities.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-05-12. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Colorado Springs Utilities (CO0121150), CO: 18 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level