How a Soil Fumigant Impurity from the 1950s-1980s Reached Deep Groundwater Decades Later
In Bonneville County, water sourced from groundwater has been monitored for 1,2,3-trichloropropane (referred to here as 1,2,3-TCP or the chlorinated solvent), a chemical once used as an impurity in soil fumigants from mid-20th century agriculture. These historic uses allowed TCP to seep slowly through soil layers and eventually reach the groundwater supplying municipal systems. The long transport time means the compound may still be present in some groundwater but often at very low levels well below regulatory concern.
Why the Reporting Level for This Solvent Is Thousands of Times Lower than for Common Metals
The federal occurrence monitoring from 2013 to 2015 for Idaho Falls’ public water system in Bonneville County used a particularly low reporting level of 0.03 micrograms per liter (equivalent to parts per billion) for 1,2,3-TCP. This limit is much more sensitive than thresholds applied to many metals or other contaminants. The low detection threshold is designed to track even trace amounts of this chlorinated solvent, reflecting its persistence and potential concerns from historic use. However, detection at or below this level does not indicate a violation or water safety issue.
How Public-System Records Differ from Private-Well Testing in What They Establish
The public water system record for the City of Idaho Falls, which serves 69,450 people through more than 26,000 connections, shows no detections of 1,2,3-TCP above this low reporting level during federal monitoring. It is important to note that these results reflect the municipal supply as a whole and do not measure water quality at individual household taps or private wells. Homeowners should have their own water tested to determine the concentration of any constituent in their specific water source, especially if previous treatment equipment has failed.
How to Compare This Area's Record with a Neighbouring County's Without Overreading It
When reviewing 1,2,3-TCP records from nearby counties or systems, keep in mind that detection limits, monitoring frequencies, and groundwater conditions may vary. Lower or higher detections elsewhere do not directly translate to individual well conditions in Bonneville County. The lack of detected 1,2,3-TCP in Idaho Falls’ municipal record means the system’s groundwater supply has not shown measurable amounts above the sensitive threshold during federal surveys, but private wells may differ.
What Happens When This Problem Is Left Untreated for Years, Stated Without Exaggeration
If a household’s water contains 1,2,3-TCP at measurable levels and no treatment is in place, the chlorinated solvent can persist in water delivered at the tap due to its chemical stability. While no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) exists for 1,2,3-trichloropropane, prolonged consumption without treatment of any chlorinated solvent detected can be a concern for long-term exposure depending on concentration. Addressing failed equipment is critical in these cases to maintain water quality that meets personal and family needs.
Summary of Public Water Data Scope and Reference to Government Source
The City of Idaho Falls public water system, serving Bonneville County, was monitored under EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule from 2013 to 2015 for 1,2,3-TCP with no detections above 0.03 micrograms per liter. This data reflects the municipal groundwater supply, not individual home plumbing or wells. For detailed information, consult the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System public water system records.
For those facing equipment failure and concerned about TCP, the Autotrol 1,2,3-TCP Filter ships ready to configure and offers a documented method to address this chlorinated solvent specifically at the household level.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-04-07. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for City of Idaho Falls (ID7100039), ID: 28 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level