Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter

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This week, you need to decide how to address concerns about 1,2,3-trichloropropane, known as 1,2,3-TCP or the chlorinated solvent TCP, in your household water supply in Columbia County, Arkansas. Understanding the nature of this compound’s detection in your region and the factors influencing your own water is key to making an informed choice.

If you want to know why granular activated carbon contact time matters more for 1,2,3-TCP than for taste

1,2,3-TCP is a chlorinated solvent that can be present in water at very low concentrations. Its chemical properties make it less likely to be removed effectively by short contact times with granular activated carbon (GAC). Unlike aesthetic concerns such as taste or odor, removal of TCP requires a deeper, longer carbon bed to increase the contact time water has with the filtering media. This longer contact time allows the carbon to adsorb more of the 1,2,3-TCP molecules. If you’re evaluating treatment technologies, understanding that bed depth and contact time are critical factors will help you choose a filter that is designed specifically for this challenging constituent.

If you want to consider how the agricultural land-use history of Columbia County relates to 1,2,3-TCP detections

Columbia County’s landscape has a history of agricultural activity which can influence the presence of legacy compounds such as 1,2,3-TCP in local water sources. This chlorinated solvent was historically used as a soil fumigant and impurity in pesticides during the mid-20th century. Though direct use has long ceased, residual contamination can persist in the environment, infiltrating surface water sources over time. The Magnolia Waterworks public water system, which serves over 11,600 people in this area from surface water, has been monitored for 1,2,3-TCP as part of the EPA’s third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3). Your water’s exposure risk is linked to this local history but is not determined by it.

If you want to understand what the measured range of 1,2,3-TCP means against federal monitoring data and what it does not mean

EPA monitoring for Magnolia Waterworks between December 2013 and September 2014 reported 8 sampling results for 1,2,3-trichloropropane, all below the reporting threshold of 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L), equivalent to 0.03 parts per billion (ppb). Since there is currently no federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set for 1,2,3-TCP, these findings do not indicate a violation or unsafe condition. A non-detection means that the compound was not found above the detection limit in those samples, but it does not guarantee absence in every individual household’s water. These federally gathered data provide a benchmark for the water system's overall quality, not a direct measurement of your tap water.

If you want to consider how many samples and wells back the reported 1,2,3-TCP data and what a limited sample size means

The Magnolia Waterworks data is based on 8 samples collected during the EPA’s UCMR3 survey period. While this offers insight into the general status of the system’s source water regarding 1,2,3-TCP, the relatively small number of samples and limited timeframe means seasonal or localized variations could exist but remain unrecorded. More frequent or varied sampling would provide a fuller picture, but official data sets focus on system-wide monitoring rather than capturing every variability in private wells or household plumbing.

If you want to evaluate the role of plumbing material and age as a factor separate from source water presence of TCP

Your household plumbing materials and the age of pipes can affect water quality independently from the water source. While 1,2,3-trichloropropane contamination primarily relates to source water, internal plumbing may contribute additional compounds or influence compound stability. It is important to test your household water directly to understand your actual exposure, as public system monitoring does not account for changes or contaminants introduced after water leaves the municipal supply.

If you want to understand how public water system records differ from private-well testing in what they establish about 1,2,3-TCP

The publicly reported monitoring results reflect the water system’s surface water source and treatment, providing a population-level overview. They do not replace the need for private well owners or households on private supplies to test their own water, as local geology, well depth, and plumbing can create unique conditions. If your household water comes from a private well, these public data do not establish your water’s quality with respect to 1,2,3-TCP or any other constituent.

For households looking to specifically address 1,2,3-TCP detected at any level, the Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter offers a treatment technology designed for this compound. This equipment ships ready to configure for residential setups and uses optimized granular activated carbon bed depth and contact time tailored to the challenge of TCP in water. Having measured your household’s 1,2,3-trichloropropane concentration, matching it with a solution designed for that demand can help you gain control over this particular water quality concern.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-09-10. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Magnolia Waterworks (AR0000109), AR: 8 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level