This week, your decision is how to address the presence of 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP) in your household water supply. If you live in Payson, Gila County, Arizona, weighing technical options depends on understanding regional water quality data and treatment capabilities before selecting a solution.
If you consider California's 5 ng/L standard for 1,2,3-TCP versus the lack of a federal maximum contaminant level
California has set a state public health goal or notification level for 1,2,3-TCP at 0.005 micrograms per liter (µg/L), also called 5 parts per trillion (ppt). In contrast, federally, there is currently no maximum contaminant level (MCL) for 1,2,3-TCP; the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not established a regulatory limit. This difference means your local public water system in Payson, which draws from groundwater and serves nearly 17,700 people, is not measured against a mandatory health-based federal limit for this chlorinated solvent. Data collected by the EPA from 2013 to 2015 for this system showed no detections above the reporting level of 0.03 µg/L (30 ppt), which is above California's guidance but below any federal requirement.
If you want to understand why aesthetic secondary standards differ from health-based limits for 1,2,3-TCP
Aesthetic secondary standards address water qualities like taste, odor, staining, and corrosivity but are not health-based limits. For 1,2,3-TCP, no federal aesthetic standards are established because it generally does not affect water's appearance or flavor at typical detection levels. The EPA's monitoring focuses on whether 1,2,3-TCP is present above very low reporting thresholds rather than any secondary, taste-related criteria. Household concerns about water quality involving 1,2,3-TCP require focus on health-based goals or known contaminants with clear regulatory action levels, rather than aesthetic thresholds.
If you are interested in why the reporting level for this chlorinated solvent is thousands of times lower than for common metals
1,2,3-TCP is a chlorinated solvent detected at concentrations measured in parts per trillion (ppt) or micrograms per liter (µg/L) at very low levels. The EPA’s reporting level for this compound is 0.03 µg/L (30 ppt), which is much lower than typical reporting levels for metals like iron or manganese, often measured at parts per million or parts per billion. This low detection threshold reflects the compound's chemical properties and the need to monitor even trace amounts carefully. However, detecting 1,2,3-TCP even at these low levels does not imply a violation or immediate health risk. It merely indicates the compound’s presence in trace amounts, prompting further water testing or treatment evaluation if desired.
If you want to know why 1,2,3-trichloropropane resists air stripping and what that means for treatment choice
Unlike many volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 1,2,3-TCP has properties making it resistant to air stripping—a water treatment process that removes contaminants by transferring them from water to air. This resistance occurs because 1,2,3-TCP has relatively low volatility and strong persistence in water. Consequently, households exploring treatment options should consider technologies designed specifically to target chlorinated solvents rather than relying on air stripping or simple aeration. One documented technology that effectively addresses 1,2,3-TCP consists of specialized filtration media configured in a Fleck System, which ships ready to configure for residential use.
If you want to understand which fixtures, appliances, or processes are affected first and why
Chlorinated solvents like 1,2,3-TCP primarily affect the entire household water supply once present, but certain fixtures or uses might be of elevated concern. Drinking water taps and kitchen appliances, where ingestion exposure is most likely, are typically the priority points for treatment or filtration focus. Showering or laundry uses also introduce exposure potential through skin contact and vapor inhalation, but the degree varies. Given the persistence of TCP in water, addressing the whole house water supply, rather than individual points, is generally advisable where treatment is chosen.
To settle the question for your home, the crucial first step is ordering a detailed laboratory water test specifically measuring 1,2,3-trichloropropane concentration in your well or tap water. The results will guide whether technical treatment approaches like the Fleck 1,2,3-TCP Filter merit consideration as a targeted solution for your household’s water quality needs.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-12-17. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Town of Payson (AZ0404032), AZ: 54 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level