Understanding Water Use Changes in Larger or Seasonal Tempe Homes
Increased Water Volume Stresses Existing Filters
Households with more people or seasonal occupancy often experience higher water use than standard documentation assumes. This increased volume can exceed the capacity of existing filters to handle particulate contaminants, including microplastics.
Intermittent Use Affects Filter Performance
Second homes or seasonal properties may face challenges as filters partially clog or degrade when water flow is irregular, reducing effectiveness against microscopic particles.
Municipal Supply Remains a Constant Source
The City of Tempe provides surface water to over 165,000 residents via 40,000 connections. While the source is consistent, fluctuating household demand can outpace treatment at the point of use.
How Water Quality Evolves After Upgrading Filtration Technology
Enhanced Removal of Particulates
The C-Series Microplastics Filter is designed to reduce microscopic plastic particles that standard household equipment may not fully capture, addressing limitations of existing setups.
Maintained Flow Rates While Filtering
Unlike conventional filters that may slow water flow as they clog, this technology sustains throughput, important for larger homes where demand is high.
Reduced Need for Frequent Filter Replacement
Improved efficiency allows the system to handle higher loads before requiring maintenance, advantageous for busy households or those with variable use.
Interpreting the Water System Sampling Record Terms
What Does ‘Detected’ Indicate?
Detected means instruments found a substance during testing. It does not imply exceedance of limits or unsafe conditions, especially since microplastics are not monitored in this system.
The Role of ‘Median’ and ‘Range’ Values
Median reflects the middle value from multiple samples while range shows the spread. These provide context but do not predict individual tap water quality.
Identifying Seasonal and Multi-Year Water Quality Trends
Sampling Dates and Their Significance
The latest lead monitoring was conducted at the end of 2024, illustrating the system’s recent data collection practices. Monitoring technologies and water quality can vary over years.
Impact of Seasonal Weather on Source Water
Surface water sources can fluctuate with seasonal rainfall and temperature changes, which may indirectly influence particulate presence, including microplastics.
Distinguishing Aesthetic Standards from Health-Based Limits
Secondary Standards Address Taste and Appearance
Water constituents affecting taste, staining, or pipe corrosivity have thresholds different from health-based limits. These influence water comfort rather than safety.
No Federal Microplastics Limits Yet Established
Currently, there are no federal health-based standards or monitoring data for microplastics in Tempe’s public water system, highlighting the importance of household-level filtration.
Summary and Next Steps
The City of Tempe’s public water system supplies over 165,000 people from surface water sources and has two documented health-based violations unrelated to microplastics. For detailed, current data, consult the EPA SDWIS public water system record for AZ0407100. Households seeking to enhance microplastics filtration capacity in response to increased water demand may consider the C-Series Microplastics Filter, which ships ready to configure for residential use.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2024-12-31. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA SDWIS record for TEMPE CITY OF (AZ0407100), surface water supply, serving 165000 people: 2 health-based violations of 17 total; lead 90th percentile 0.0044 mg/L