If You Observe Seasonal Water-Table Changes Affecting Solvent Plume Position Relative to Your Well Screen
It is common to think that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) levels in groundwater remain constant, but seasonal fluctuations in the water table can actually shift solvent plumes vertically. These plumes contain VOCs such as HCFC-22, detected in the Murray City Water System that serves part of Salt Lake County. As groundwater levels rise or fall, the interface between solvent-contaminated zones and cleaner water moves, potentially changing which sections of a well screen draw water from these plumes. This dynamic means that VOC presence in your household water supply may vary over time, even if the source remains the same.
If You Consider How Volatility Influences Exposure Routes Beyond Drinking Water
Volatile organic compounds are chemicals that can easily evaporate into the air. Because of this, household activities like showering and dishwashing can release VOCs from water into indoor air, where inhalation becomes an important exposure route. In Salt Lake County, groundwater-based municipal supply data from the Murray City Water System shows HCFC-22 is occasionally detected at up to approximately 2.97 micrograms per liter (equal to parts per billion), with no federal maximum contaminant level established. While the concentrations recorded do not indicate unsafe conditions, understanding that VOCs can enter your home’s air during water use highlights the importance of considering treatment options that address both ingestion and inhalation pathways.
If You Want to Know How Treatment Technology Removes or Neutralizes VOCs
Addressing VOCs like HCFC-22 and other solvent compounds requires technology designed to reduce volatile organics specifically. The Fleck VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter system uses media capable of adsorbing these compounds from water, effectively decreasing their concentration before water reaches household taps and appliances. This system ships ready to configure for residential use, providing a practical method to manage VOC levels based on documented efficacy. It is important to note that treatment effectiveness varies with contact time and system configuration, making proper setup essential for optimal reduction of volatile organics.
If You Are Interpreting the Measured Concentration Range Against Federal Standards
The federal third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) tested the Murray City Water System from 2014 to 2015 and found detections of HCFC-22 ranging from 0.08 up to 2.971 micrograms per liter (ppb). There are no federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) established for these VOCs under UCMR3, so these detections do not represent violations or health-based exceedances. They simply document what was measured in the system's groundwater supply. This distinction is crucial: a detection means the compound was measured, not that it poses a known health risk at these levels according to federal standards.
If You Are Wondering What a Laboratory's Method Detection Limit Means When a VOC Is 'Not Detected'
When lab tests report a VOC as 'not detected' (ND), it means the concentration in the sample was below the method detection limit (MDL) — the smallest amount the test can reliably identify. For example, for 1,1-dichloroethane in the Murray City Water System, the reporting level was 0.03 micrograms per liter. A result below this does not guarantee the compound is absent but indicates it was not found above that threshold. Homeowners seeking to assess their own water's VOC content should use laboratory methods with detection limits appropriate to regional findings for accurate characterization.
The Murray City Water System’s public records show measurements of volatile organic compounds in groundwater from 2013 to 2015 serving Salt Lake County residents through 11,590 connections. These findings come from EPA-monitored public water system data and provide context for choosing appropriate water treatment options. Source details are available at the EPA's official drinking water contaminant monitoring records.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-03-27. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Murray City Water System (UTAH18024), UT: 210 results across 6 listed contaminants, 6 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for these UCMR-listed VOCs
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