The public water system serving New Castle, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, is United Water Delaware (DE0000564), a community water system serving over 100,000 people. According to the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) data collected between 2013 and 2015, 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP)—a chlorinated solvent—was not detected above 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L) in any of the four samples taken. There is no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) established for TCP, and no health-based violations have been recorded for this system. This means that while the presence of TCP was monitored, no quantifiable amounts above the reporting level were found during this period.
Why 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Resists Air Stripping and What That Means for Treatment Choice
1,2,3-trichloropropane is a chlorinated solvent that is persistent in water and notably resistant to removal by air stripping. Air stripping, a common water treatment method where volatile compounds are transferred from water to air, is ineffective for TCP because its chemical structure causes it to remain dissolved rather than volatilize readily. For households facing issues with residual TCP presence—especially when previous equipment has failed—choosing treatment technology that targets adsorption or catalytic processes is essential to effectively address this constituent.
Why the Reporting Level for This Solvent Is Thousands of Times Lower Than for Common Metals
The EPA's monitoring for 1,2,3-TCP uses a reporting level of 0.03 µg/L, equivalent to 0.03 parts per billion (ppb), which is significantly lower than typical reporting levels for common metals like lead or copper that are measured in micrograms per liter but at much higher thresholds. This sensitivity reflects TCP’s potential health concerns at very low concentrations and the technical capabilities needed to detect it. However, it is important to understand that detection below this level does not indicate a safety concern, but rather the limits of analytical measurement and precautionary monitoring.
The Role of Plumbing Material and Age, Separate From the Source Water
While TCP originates primarily from environmental sources such as past industrial and agricultural activities, the plumbing material and age within a residence can influence water quality independently. Older plumbing systems or certain materials may contribute to other water quality issues, but they do not contribute to the presence of TCP. Because TCP monitoring focuses on the source water treated by the public system, any measurements or concerns specific to TCP should be confirmed with testing of the household water rather than inferred from the plumbing characteristics.
What 'Detected', 'Median' and 'Range' Mean in the Sampling Record on This Page
The EPA monitoring results for United Water Delaware recorded no detections of TCP above the reporting level. In this context, 'detected' means that the concentration was measured above the minimum reporting threshold of 0.03 µg/L; no sample met or exceeded this level. 'Median' and 'range' relate to the distribution of sample results across all monitoring points: the median is the middle value in a data set, and the range reflects the span between the lowest and highest recorded values. Here, since no values exceeded the reporting level, these statistical measures provide limited information on TCP levels and do not suggest a contamination issue.
What the Reader Should Write Down Before Asking Anyone for Treatment Advice
- Recent laboratory testing results from your own household water supply for 1,2,3-trichloropropane concentration, noting units and detection limits.
- Details about any past treatment equipment failures, including the type of system and specific issues encountered.
- Information on your water source type (public surface water) as provided by your water utility.
- Knowledge of local water quality data, such as the published EPA UCMR3 results for your area’s system.
- Awareness that 1,2,3-TCP levels below 0.03 µg/L were not detected in public water system sampling, which may help gauge risk and treatment needs.
If your existing equipment for treating water quality issues involving chlorinated solvents has failed, the C-Series 1,2,3-TCP Filter ships ready to configure and can provide targeted management of TCP based on demand figures you measure. This technology is designed to address persistent chlorinated solvents where other conventional methods, like air stripping, are ineffective. Testing your household water is the starting point for making informed treatment decisions aligned with local water quality conditions.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-11-06. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for United Water Delaware (DE0000564), DE: 4 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level