Understanding Bismarck's Water Supply and 1,2,3-TCP Monitoring
The City of Bismarck's water system delivers surface water to over 72,000 residents through more than 21,000 connections. Federal tests conducted between 2013 and 2015 under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) measured levels of 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP), a chlorinated solvent known for its persistence in water supplies.
Why Is the Reporting Level for 1,2,3-TCP Much Lower than for Common Metals?
Reporting Level vs. Common Metals
1,2,3-TCP is monitored at a reporting level of 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L), or parts per billion (ppb), which is thousands of times lower than the levels used for common metals. This low reporting threshold reflects the concern over even very small amounts of this chlorinated solvent, which can be more difficult to detect and may persist in water differently than metals.
Resistance of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane to Air Stripping and Its Treatment Implications
Chlorinated Solvent Persistence
1,2,3-TCP has properties that make it resistant to air stripping, a common water treatment method that removes volatile contaminants by transferring them from water to air. This resistance affects treatment decisions, indicating that methods relying solely on air stripping may be ineffective for addressing TCP in water.
Consideration for Treatment Technology
Because of this resistance, households evaluating equipment to manage TCP should consider technologies capable of targeting chlorinated solvents specifically, beyond common volatile removal systems.
Comparing Burleigh County’s Record with Nearby Areas Without Overreading Results
Data Scope and Interpretation
The EPA's sampling for Burleigh County's public water system found no detections of 1,2,3-TCP above the reporting level during the tested period. This does not imply individual homes have no 1,2,3-TCP but rather that the system's water met this metric consistently. Comparing these results to neighboring counties requires caution to avoid assuming similar or differing levels without localized testing.
Understanding What Detected Range Means Against Federal Standards
No Federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for TCP
Since there is no federal MCL for 1,2,3-trichloropropane, measuring detected levels serves as surveillance rather than compliance assessment. Absence of detected 1,2,3-TCP above 0.03 µg/L means there is no recorded measurement above that sensitivity, but it is not a safety certification for any individual water source.
What the Detected Range Does Not Indicate
The lack of measurements above the reporting level does not guarantee zero presence at individual households. Localized conditions can vary, and only direct testing of a home's water establishes specific concentrations.
Seasonal and Multi-Year Variation in 1,2,3-TCP Data
Sampling Dates and Stability
The federal monitoring period from May 2013 to February 2014 showed no detections above the reporting limit. This snapshot suggests stability in Bismarck's surface water supply during that time, but ongoing testing over different seasons and years would be necessary to confirm continued trends.
Implications for Household Demand
Variation in chlorinated solvent levels can fluctuate, but the existing data support consistent low detection for this system. For households concerned about 1,2,3-TCP, factoring this into equipment sizing and technology requirements according to daily water use is critical.
Choosing Equipment for Your Household Based on This Data
Given the absence of 1,2,3-trichloropropane detections above 0.03 µg/L in Bismarck's public water system sample record, choosing treatment technology involves considering your specific water demand and known water characteristics. The Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter ships ready to configure and offers a solution designed to address chlorinated solvents with reliable performance suited to household scale demand figures you collect from your water use measurements.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-02-11. 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 Bismarck (ND0800080), ND: 4 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level