Government sampling for the Memphis Light, Gas & Water public water system serving Shelby County shows that 1,4-dioxane was detected at low levels in some groundwater sources. Among 20 samples taken between 2013 and 2015, two showed measurable 1,4-dioxane concentrations just above the reporting level of 0.07 micrograms per liter (0.07 parts per billion), with the highest at 0.1 micrograms per liter and a median of detected values at 0.095 micrograms per liter. This cyclic ether contaminant has no federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), and there have been no EPA health-based violations recorded for this system.
If You Consider How Landfill Leachate, Degreasing Sites, and Consumer Products Affect Local Water
1,4-Dioxane, also known as the solvent stabiliser, can enter the groundwater through various pathways. Common sources in this region include leachate from landfills where industrial and household chemicals are disposed, runoff from sites where degreasing solvents were historically used or spilled, and consumer products that can contain this compound, such as some detergents and personal care items. These sources contribute to the presence of low-level dioxane detections in groundwater that supplies the municipal system.
If You Want to Understand Why 1,4-Dioxane Travels Ahead of the Solvent Plume It Stabilised
Unlike many other solvents, 1,4-dioxane is highly soluble and does not easily bind to soil or sediments. This means it can migrate faster and further in groundwater than the primary solvents it often accompanies. For households relying on wells or groundwater-fed municipal supplies, this means dioxane may appear in water sources even where the original solvent contaminants are undetectable or at lower levels. This transport behaviour is important when considering treatment needs because it affects where and how dioxane can be encountered.
If You Consider How Sample Depth, Well Depth, or Source Type Influence What You Might Expect
The depth of the groundwater source and the type of well or intake affect 1,4-dioxane concentrations. Since the measured data come from municipal groundwater wells, their depth and location determine the dioxane levels found in the system. Individual household wells, especially shallow ones, may have different exposure to this cyclic ether. To know the specific 1,4-dioxane levels in your home water, a laboratory test of a water sample is necessary. Local area data serve only as a general indication of possible presence.
If You Want to Know How Treatment Technology Removes or Neutralizes 1,4-Dioxane
The C-Series 1,4-Dioxane Filter is designed to address the presence of this solvent stabiliser in household water. This technology employs a specialized filtration method that captures and reduces low-level 1,4-dioxane concentrations, improving water quality where the compound is a concern. The filter ships ready to configure for use with residential water systems, providing a practical option for households deciding on treatment needs based on local data and individual water tests.
If You Wonder How 1,4-Dioxane Enters Groundwater or the Distribution System in Shelby County
The cyclic ether typically enters groundwater in this region through infiltration from historical and current industrial activities, landfill seepage, and consumer product residues that leach into soils. Once in groundwater, it can enter the public water system source wells that supply Memphis Light, Gas & Water. Because the water system uses groundwater sources, these pathways explain why the compound is detected at low levels in some samples.
If You Are Considering What the Measured Range Means Compared to Federal Standards
The highest detected 1,4-dioxane concentration recorded by EPA monitoring was 0.1 micrograms per liter (0.1 ppb), well below the EPA’s cancer risk reference concentration of 0.35 micrograms per liter. Since there is no federal MCL, these measurements represent detections rather than violations or unsafe conditions. The data should be understood as background information about water quality in the public system, not a direct assessment of any individual home's water safety.
What You Should NOT Conclude From Area Data
Area-level detections do not establish the concentration of 1,4-dioxane in your specific water supply. No detection recorded by the government monitoring should be interpreted as a violation, exceedance, or indication of unsafe water. To understand your household’s water, you need a certified laboratory test focused on the constituents of interest. The local public water system has no EPA health-based violations for 1,4-dioxane, reflecting compliance with current regulations.
Considering the low-level background presence of 1,4-dioxane in Memphis’s groundwater-sourced water supply, households deciding on treatment can use the C-Series 1,4-Dioxane Filter, which ships ready to configure, as an effective option to address this constituent if testing shows it in your water. This information helps guide a decision about whether such treatment technology is the right fit for your home water needs.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-12-08. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Memphis Light, Gas & Water (TN0000450), TN: 20 results across 1 listed contaminants, 2 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL; EPA cancer risk reference concentration 0.35 ug/L