Fleck 1,4-Dioxane Filter

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Reverse Osmosis Rejection Rates Do Not Guarantee Household Water Quality

Rejection rates express the percent of 1,4-dioxane the membrane can theoretically block

This percentage is a laboratory measure, often cited to describe reverse osmosis membranes but does not guarantee the actual concentration of the cyclic ether in your water after treatment. Household factors and water chemistry affect real-world performance. Thus, relying solely on a stated rejection rate to judge equipment capability can be misleading.

Low-Level Detections of 1,4-Dioxane Are Reported With High Precision

Federal detection limits for 1,4-dioxane are set at 0.07 micrograms per liter (µg/L or parts per billion, ppb)

The Southern Utilities system in Smith County measured 1,4-dioxane at levels below this reporting threshold in all 46 tests from 2013 to 2015, indicating the cyclic ether was present only at trace or non-quantifiable levels in surface water sources supplying the public. Reporting to three decimal places reflects the analytical precision but does not imply safety or health risk categorization.

Detection is not a safety or compliance violation

No federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) currently exists for 1,4-dioxane, and the system has no EPA health-based violations, confirming the water meets regulatory standards despite these trace detections.

Contributions to 1,4-Dioxane Levels in Smith County Water

Landfill leachate can introduce 1,4-dioxane into surface water impacting the system's supply

This compound is also used as a solvent stabilizer in degreasing and industrial processes and appears in some consumer products, all pathways contributing to measurable 1,4-dioxane in natural water bodies.

Understanding the source explains why detection varies over time

Seasonal runoff, groundwater flow, and industrial activity influence concentrations, making household water treatment challenges fluctuate.

Data Sample Size and Its Implications for Household Water Assessment

Samples collected numbered 46 over a six-month period in 2013 in the Southern Utilities public water system

This sample volume provides insight into general system water quality but cannot specify the exact concentration at any single connection due to system-wide averaging and source variability.

Small sample sizes limit detailed household water conclusions

Individual well or tap water testing remains essential for personalized water quality evaluation, especially if your existing equipment struggles with 1,4-dioxane presence.

Measured Concentration Range Versus Federal Reference Concentrations

The EPA cancer risk reference concentration for 1,4-dioxane is 0.35 micrograms per liter (ppb)

Detected levels in the Smith County public system were below the reporting limit of 0.07 µg/L, substantially below this benchmark, indicating that the cyclic ether was measured only minimally in public water.

This does not equate to the absence of 1,4-dioxane in household water

Regional data cannot substitute for household-level testing to confirm if 1,4-dioxane exceeds levels handled by your current water treatment configuration.

Closing Checklist Item: Meeting Household Demand for 1,4-Dioxane Management

If your existing equipment cannot keep up with managing the cyclic ether measured in your household water, consider the Fleck 1,4-Dioxane Filter. This documented solution ships ready to configure for residential use, providing an engineered approach to address 1,4-dioxane that may be beyond your current treatment capability.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2013-08-27. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Southern Utilities (TX2120063), TX: 46 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level