What a Certified Laboratory Test for Perchlorate Reports and How to Read It
A certified laboratory test for perchlorate measures perchlorate ions in micrograms per liter (µg/L) in your specific water sample. The result shows the concentration detected at the moment of sampling. In New Castle County areas served by the Artesian Water Company, federal occurrence monitoring from 2001 to 2005 found no perchlorate above the reporting level of 4.0 µg/L. This means perchlorate was either not detected or below 4.0 µg/L in those samples. Such results do not indicate violation or unsafe water; they are simply measurements to inform you. Your home's water test will tell you your actual perchlorate level, which can vary from the public system's broad record.
How Seasonal or Multi-Year Variation Shows in the Public Water System Record
The Artesian Water Company’s perchlorate data come from monitoring conducted between November 2001 and May 2002. In that period, 48 samples showed no perchlorate above the reporting level. Because this federal survey covered several months and multiple locations within the system, it captures some seasonal variation typical of surface water sources. However, perchlorate levels may vary outside these dates or with changing water sources, so continuous monitoring or current testing is necessary to understand fluctuations over time.
What Changes for Large Households, Second Homes, or Seasonal Properties
Households with higher water use—such as larger families or properties occupied seasonally—affect the volume of water needing treatment but not the perchlorate concentration in source water. Treatment equipment capacity should match daily water demand to ensure perchlorate removal without reducing flow or coverage. For second homes or seasonal residences, perchlorate levels remain tied to the supply system's water quality, but usage patterns may influence how you size and configure treatment systems designed to address perchlorate.
How Public-System Records Differ from Private-Well Testing in What They Establish
The public water system record provides an overview of water quality as sampled at treatment plants or distribution points serving thousands of users, reflecting average regional conditions. It does not describe water quality at an individual home’s tap. Private wells can have very different perchlorate levels due to local geology or contamination sources. Only a lab report on your home's water can confirm your perchlorate concentration, while the public record helps assess general regional presence and informs treatment needs.
How to Judge Treatment Capacity Against Household Daily Demand
Effective perchlorate removal requires treatment equipment sized to the household’s water use. Estimate your daily consumption and ensure the system you select handles that volume without performance loss. Overloading undersized treatment can reduce perchlorate removal effectiveness and water availability. Conversely, a system sized for your demand can reliably maintain water quality regarding perchlorate.
Role of Plumbing Material and Age, Separate from Source Water
Plumbing components and their condition affect water delivery but do not influence perchlorate concentration, which originates from the source water. Older or corroded pipes may impact taste or leach metals, but perchlorate levels depend on water source quality and treatment. Addressing perchlorate involves targeting the source water through filtration, independent of plumbing system factors.
For households assessing treatment approaches in New Castle County, the Fleck Perchlorate Filter offers a documented solution. It ships ready to configure to match your household’s measured water demand, providing a targeted method to reduce perchlorate at the tap based on your specific water quality testing.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2002-05-29. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR1 monitoring (2001-2005) for ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY (DE0000552), DE: 48 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level
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