What volatile organic compounds appear in the Rapid City water system record?
The EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) collected data on several volatile organics in the Rapid City public water system, which serves approximately 72,000 people through more than 23,000 connections. According to monitoring from 2013 to 2015, no detections above the reporting levels were noted for 1,1-dichloroethane, chloromethane, bromomethane, halon 1011, 1,3-butadiene, or MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether). However, HCFC-22 was detected once at 0.12 micrograms per liter (µg/L), equivalent to 0.12 parts per billion (ppb). The data indicates that these solvent compounds appear at very low or undetectable levels in this surface water source.
How do releases from gasoline and dry-cleaning operations differ in groundwater contamination?
VOCs are a broad class of chemicals that include solvent compounds from various sources. Gasoline releases often contribute compounds such as MTBE and 1,1-dichloroethane. These substances tend to spread and degrade in different ways compared to solvents used in dry-cleaning, which often include chloromethane and bromomethane. Groundwater impacted by dry-cleaning solvents may show distinct chemical patterns, as these chemicals disperse and interact with subsurface materials differently than gasoline-derived VOCs.
How does a large household, second home, or seasonal property affect VOC concerns?
The size and use of a residence can influence water quality management, though the presence of VOCs in water depends mainly on the source water and local contamination. For larger households with higher water use, or second homes with seasonal occupancy, it is important to confirm water quality before use, especially if the source is a private well rather than the public system. The public water system data reflects conditions for the entire served area but cannot specify variation at individual taps or wells.
What do 'detected', 'median', and 'range' mean in the VOC sampling record for Rapid City?
'Detected' means that a VOC was measured above a laboratory’s reporting level during sampling. The 'median' value represents the middle concentration of detected samples, providing a typical occurrence level, while the 'range' shows the lowest and highest measurements recorded. For HCFC-22, the single detection was 0.12 µg/L, so the median and highest values are the same. The absence of detections for other compounds means they were either below detection thresholds or not present during sampling.
How do seasonal water-table changes affect solvent plumes relative to a well screen?
Solvent compounds dissolved in groundwater can move according to changes in the water table, which fluctuates seasonally due to precipitation, pumping, and other hydrological factors. These movements can alter the location of a solvent plume relative to a well screen—the portion of a well that draws water. As the plume shifts, concentrations at the well intake may vary, underscoring the importance of periodic testing in private wells to assess current water quality conditions.
What maintenance rhythm does the Autotrol VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter require?
The Autotrol System designed for VOCs and industrial chemicals ships ready to configure and operates by filtering volatile organics effectively. Maintenance typically includes periodic replacement of the filter media to ensure continued performance, which is scheduled based on water usage and contaminant levels. No on-site plumbing work is needed to set up the system, making upkeep manageable for residential users seeking control over VOCs in their water supply.
This overview is based on data for the Rapid City public water system serving Pennington County and does not assess individual household water quality. For details, reference the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) public water system record for Rapid City, SD4600406.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-04-15. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Rapid City (SD4600406), SD: 176 results across 7 listed contaminants, 1 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for these UCMR-listed VOCs
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