The Difference Between a UCMR3 Detection and a State Notification Level for 1,4-Dioxane
The Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Wells Water District in York County sources its water from surface supplies serving over 35,000 people. Between 2013 and 2015, under the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3), this system was tested eight times for 1,4-dioxane, a cyclic ether often used as a solvent stabilizer. None of these samples showed 1,4-dioxane detected above the reporting level of 0.07 micrograms per liter (µg/L). It is important to understand that this detection level is not a legal limit but a measurement threshold. Furthermore, no state notification levels apply here. Thus, the presence or absence of 1,4-dioxane in these tests represents scientific findings about the supply’s quality, not a safety directive or violation.
Why Carbon and Boiling Do Little for This Ether, and Which Technologies Are Actually Documented
1,4-Dioxane resists common water treatment methods like boiling or standard activated carbon filtration, which are often effective for other volatile organic contaminants. This resistance is due to 1,4-dioxane’s chemical properties as a cyclic ether that does not adsorb well onto typical carbon media and is stable under heating. Documented treatment methods capable of addressing low-level 1,4-dioxane in household water involve specialized filtration designed for this compound. One such technology is the Fleck 1,4-Dioxane Filter, which ships ready to configure for home use and uses proven technologies to address this compound under residential conditions.
What 'Detected,' 'Median,' and 'Range' Mean in the Sampling Record on This Page
In the EPA’s UCMR3 data, 'detected' refers to a concentration measured above the instrument’s minimum reporting level; in this case, 0.07 µg/L (or parts per billion). A 'median' value summarizes the middle of the detected data set but is not presented here because no detections exceeded that reporting level. The 'range' would describe the lowest and highest measurements recorded but is effectively from zero up to that threshold for this water system. These terms help interpret data scientifically but do not indicate health concerns or mandate household action on their own.
How Seasonal or Multi-Year Variation Shows in the Record (Dates and Ranges Given)
The samples span just over a year, from September 2013 to November 2014, providing a snapshot across seasons. Although 1,4-dioxane levels can fluctuate due to environmental factors, this limited data set shows no detections above reporting limits in any season. Continuous or longer-term sampling could reveal more about seasonal variation, but the available data indicate stable low levels in this specific system during the monitoring period.
How Many Samples and Wells Stand Behind the Figures, and What a Small Sample Means
This EPA monitoring involved eight samples from the public water system serving Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Wells. These tests reflect the conditions of the municipal supply rather than any individual well or home. The small number of samples means the data provide an initial overview but do not capture every possible variation or peak. Testing your own household water is the only way to know its specific quality regarding 1,4-dioxane.
What the Measured Range Means Against the Relevant Federal Standard, and What It Does Not Mean
The EPA has no enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) for 1,4-dioxane, but it provides a cancer risk reference concentration of 0.35 µg/L for guidance. The recorded measurements in this system fall below the 0.07 µg/L reporting level, indicating no federal compliance concerns. This information does not imply any health hazard or confirm the absence of 1,4-dioxane in your home’s water. It reflects the municipal water system’s general status during 2013–2015 and should not be taken as a direct assessment of your tap water’s current condition.
Closing Summary
If you are concerned about 1,4-dioxane in your household water in York County, the single step that provides certainty is ordering a specialized water test that quantifies 1,4-dioxane concentration in your specific source. Only a certified laboratory analysis of your home’s water will determine if treatment is needed. Should your test show measurable levels, products like the Fleck 1,4-Dioxane Filter, designed to operate effectively in residential settings, offer a documented approach to address this solvent stabilizer. This filter ships ready to configure without complex procedures, providing a straightforward method to manage 1,4-dioxane concerns where they exist.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-11-25. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Wells WD (ME0090760), ME: 8 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level