Residents of Long Beach in Harrison County receive their water primarily from groundwater sources. This water undergoes municipal processing before reaching homes through over 7,000 service connections, serving approximately 18,500 people. Understanding what affects this water can be challenging, especially when it comes to contaminants like 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP), a chlorinated solvent once used as a soil fumigant.
Granular activated carbon contact time: why bed depth matters more for TCP than for taste
One common assumption about treating 1,2,3-TCP is that methods effective for removing taste or odor problems will suffice. However, 1,2,3-TCP requires longer contact times with granular activated carbon to reduce because it interacts differently compared to compounds that influence taste. Bed depth in the filtration media is critical here; deeper beds allow extended contact with water, enhancing adsorption of this chlorinated solvent. This focus on bed depth is essential because shorter contact times—adequate for some aesthetic issues—may not effectively address 1,2,3-trichloropropane presence.
How a soil fumigant impurity from the 1950s-1980s reached deep groundwater decades later
1,2,3-TCP was not a deliberately added chemical but often existed as a trace impurity in soil fumigants used in agriculture between the 1950s and 1980s. Over time, this compound leached into deep aquifers, establishing a legacy presence in groundwater sources like those supplying Long Beach. The slow movement through soil layers means that even decades later, trace levels may be found in municipal groundwater supplies, demonstrating the persistence of this chlorinated solvent in the environment.
Why 1,2,3-trichloropropane resists air stripping and what that means for treatment choice
It is a myth that conventional air stripping methods effectively remove 1,2,3-TCP. Unlike more volatile contaminants, this chlorinated solvent has low volatility, making air stripping ineffective. This characteristic necessitates treatment methods that rely on adsorption rather than volatilization—hence the importance of filtration technologies that use granular activated carbon with adequate bed depth and contact time to capture and hold chlorinated solvents like TCP.
What distinguishes this problem from the two problems most often confused with it
1,2,3-TCP contamination is sometimes confused with issues related to taste and odor or with more common pollutants like chlorides and total dissolved solids that affect water aesthetics. Unlike these, 1,2,3-TCP does not influence water taste or cause staining. It is a specific chlorinated solvent with distinct chemical properties, so solutions targeted solely at aesthetic issues will not be sufficient for addressing any potential presence of this compound in water.
What the measured range means against the relevant federal standard, and what it does not mean
The City of Long Beach's public water system record for 2013–2015 shows 18 monitoring results for 1,2,3-trichloropropane with none detected above the reporting level of 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L), equivalent to parts per billion (ppb). Because there is currently no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) for 1,2,3-TCP, these detections are measurements only—not violations or safety exceedances. This record indicates that if 1,2,3-TCP is present, it is below levels measurable by the methods used in this federal survey. It does not guarantee the absence of any 1,2,3-trichloropropane at the tap; only an individual water test can determine what your household’s water contains.
Next steps: testing your water for 1,2,3-trichloropropane
To understand your household’s specific situation, you should order a water test that includes analysis for 1,2,3-TCP, performed by a certified laboratory using EPA-approved methods. Confirming the presence and concentration of this chlorinated solvent in your own water is the only way to assess whether treatment is needed.
For households seeking to address 1,2,3-trichloropropane, the Fleck 1,2,3-TCP Filter is a documented technology designed to reduce chlorinated solvents by leveraging granular activated carbon with sufficient bed depth and contact time. This equipment ships ready to configure for home use and provides a targeted approach to managing 1,2,3-TCP if testing indicates it is present at concerning levels.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-05-19. 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 Long Beach (MS0240005), MS: 18 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level
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