What Laboratory Tests Report About 1,2,3-TCP Levels
A typical water quality lab report for 1,2,3-trichloropropane, often abbreviated as 1,2,3-TCP or TCP, lists concentrations in micrograms per liter (µg/L), equivalently parts per billion (ppb). For the public water system serving Fayetteville and nearby areas, the reporting level is set at 0.03 µg/L. This means concentrations below this value are reported as not detected, rather than zero or absent.
In the 2013-2015 EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) survey for the Cliffdale West public water system using groundwater sources, zero out of 53 samples showed detections at or above this reporting level. The system has no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) established for this chemical.
Why the Reporting Level for 1,2,3-TCP Is So Much Lower Than for Common Metals
The reporting threshold of 0.03 µg/L for TCP is thousands of times lower than reporting or action levels for many common metals such as lead or copper, which are measured in single micrograms per liter or higher. This extremely low level reflects 1,2,3-trichloropropane’s historical classification as a solvent and potential carcinogen, prompting sensitive analytical methods to monitor its presence carefully despite lack of a formal MCL.
How a Legacy Soil Fumigant Impurity Found Its Way Into Deep Groundwater
1,2,3-TCP originated as an unintended byproduct in soil fumigants widely applied to agricultural lands from the mid-20th century through the 1980s. Over decades, this volatile chlorinated solvent leached through soil layers, eventually reaching deep groundwater aquifers that supply public systems in Cumberland County.
Its persistence in groundwater results from its chemical stability and slow degradation under natural conditions, allowing it to be detected long after application ceased.
Why 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Resists Air Stripping and Implications for Treatment
Unlike some chlorinated solvents, 1,2,3-TCP does not readily volatilize, meaning it resists air stripping treatment methods commonly used for removing volatile organics. This physical characteristic necessitates alternative approaches, such as adsorption technologies, for effective reduction in household water.
How 1,2,3-TCP Enters Groundwater or Distribution Systems in the Fayetteville Region
In Cumberland County, groundwater sources supply the Cliffdale West public water system serving over 15,000 people. The chlorinated solvent can enter the distribution system through abstraction from wells drawing from aquifers contaminated by historical soil fumigant use. Because municipal systems pump from deep groundwater, the presence of 1,2,3-trichloropropane depends on local hydrogeology and past land use rather than recent surface activity.
Effects of Sample Depth, Well Depth, and Source Type on Expected Concentrations
Water quality data for 1,2,3-TCP can vary based on the depth at which samples are collected and the depth of the well. Deeper wells may intercept aquifers with differing contamination histories or natural attenuation patterns. Since the Fayetteville recording system uses groundwater sources, measurements reflect conditions at the point of withdrawal, not within household plumbing.
Therefore, homeowners concerned about their own water should consider individual testing to establish specific concentrations.
Summary of Water Quality Records and Next Steps
The EPA public water system record for Cliffdale West in Cumberland County, NC, covering 2013 to 2015 UCMR3 monitoring, shows no detections of 1,2,3-TCP above the 0.03 µg/L reporting level. This indicates that while the constituent is closely monitored due to its chemical nature, it was not detected in the system samples taken during that period.
Residents interested in confirming their household water quality regarding 1,2,3-TCP can seek laboratory testing measuring concentrations against the established reporting level. For addressing detected levels, water treatment equipment based on Fleck systems designed to handle this chlorinated solvent can be shipped ready to configure by the user.
The source information is publicly available through EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule data for the Cliffdale West system (NC0326332).
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-09-29. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Cliffdale West (NC0326332), NC: 53 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level
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