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What a Laboratory's Method Detection Limit Means When a Compound Is 'Not Detected'

When government monitoring reports that a volatile organic compound (VOC) such as MTBE was 'not detected' in the GWA Central Water System in GU, this means the compound was below the laboratory's detection threshold—specifically, below 5.0 micrograms per liter (µg/L) or parts per billion (ppb). No detection does not mean the compound is absent; it means the concentration was too low for the methods used to reliably measure. Awareness of this distinction helps homeowners understand sampling results without assuming safety status or levels in their own tap water.

A Worked Example: Reading the Record's Median and Range as a Homeowner Would

The EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) found no MTBE above detection limits in 10 samples from 2013-2015 for this system. With zero detections, the median and range are at or below 5.0 µg/L. For a resident, this signals that if MTBE or similar volatile organics exist in their household water, it is at very low levels undetectable by this survey. To know specific concentrations at home, a private water test with a sensitive laboratory method is essential.

The Household or Facility Symptoms That Do and Do Not Point to This Problem

Volatile organic compounds, sometimes called solvent compounds, can cause tastes or odors in water in some cases, but the absence of such sensory clues does not rule out their presence. Routine symptoms like staining, hardness, or cloudiness typically do not relate to VOCs. If concerned about VOC exposure, symptoms such as unusual chemical taste or odor, or health consultations regarding VOCs may motivate testing but are not conclusive evidence of contamination.

What 'Detected', 'Median' and 'Range' Mean in the Sampling Record on This Page

In the government's water quality reporting, 'detected' indicates measurement above the laboratory's minimum reporting level but not a regulatory violation or health hazard. The 'median' is the middle value of all sample measurements, and the 'range' covers the lowest to highest detected values. For the GWA Central Water System, MTBE was not detected above 5.0 µg/L in any sample, so median and range values reflect this non-detection threshold rather than confirmed levels.

Which Volatile Organic Compounds Appear in This Record and Which Do Not, Named From the Facts

This record focuses on MTBE—a commonly monitored VOC known as methyl tertiary-butyl ether—evaluated in the system's samples with zero detections above 5.0 µg/L. Other solvent compounds commonly found in water are not listed in this EPA system record for GWA Central Water System, indicating the federal survey did not report their presence or did not test for them under the UCMR3 program.

The GWA Central Water System serves the public in GU County via numerous connections. This government data covers the public system as a whole, not individual household water supplies. To confirm VOC concentrations at home, a specialized water test is necessary. For households wishing to reduce potential VOCs or industrial chemical traces in their water regardless of detected levels, the Pentair VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter ships ready to configure and uses proven technology to target these solvent compounds effectively.

All information on VOCs here is derived from the EPA public system record for the GWA Central Water System in GU, accessible through the EPA's official data portals.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2004-12-19. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for GWA CENTRAL WATER SYSTEM (GU0000003), GU: 10 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level