What Does a Laboratory Test Report Actually Say for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane in This Area?
When you receive a laboratory test result for 1,2,3-trichloropropane (also called 1,2,3-TCP or TCP), it usually reports the concentration in micrograms per liter (µg/L) or parts per billion (ppb). For Salt Lake County's Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, federal monitoring from 2013 to 2015 detected no 1,2,3-TCP above the reporting level of 0.03 µg/L (0.03 ppb). This means regional measurements found very low or undetectable amounts of this chlorinated solvent in the surface water supply. However, these figures describe the public system, not your home's specific water quality. A private test would be needed to confirm your household water concentration.
How Does the Agricultural Land-Use History in Salt Lake County Relate to 1,2,3-TCP Detections?
1,2,3-TCP is a chlorinated solvent that historically originated as an impurity in soil fumigants used in agriculture, particularly from the 1950s through the 1980s. While Salt Lake County is less characterized by extensive farming than some other regions, historical use of such fumigants in nearby areas can influence groundwater and surface water quality through runoff or leaching. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District relies on surface water sources where contamination from such sources is more diluted and less persistent than in shallow groundwater close to former fumigated fields.
How Did a Soil Fumigant Impurity from Decades Ago Enter Groundwater or Surface Water Here?
The chlorinated solvent 1,2,3-TCP is not a pesticide itself but was present as a trace impurity in older fumigants. After application, TCP can persist in the environment, slowly migrating through soil and potentially reaching aquifers or surface water. In Salt Lake County, decades-old agricultural chemicals could have historically leached into groundwater or been transported via runoff into surface water bodies supplying the public system. However, environmental dilution, degradation, and modern water treatment practices keep current detections low or below reporting thresholds.
What Happens If 1,2,3-TCP Is Left Untreated in Household Water Over Years?
1,2,3-TCP is a chlorinated organic compound of concern largely due to its persistence and potential health effects if consumed over long periods. While the Jordan Valley water system has no health-based violations for this constituent, untreated 1,2,3-TCP in household water could accumulate or concentrate in private wells, particularly shallow groundwater sources. Over years, chronic exposure to TCP at high levels may raise health concerns, though typical municipal water monitoring shows very low or undetected concentrations here.
How Does Source Type, Well Depth, or Sample Depth Affect Expectations for 1,2,3-TCP in Salt Lake Water?
Water source and well characteristics greatly influence 1,2,3-TCP presence. In Salt Lake County, the public supply comes from surface water, which tends to have lower and more variable levels of TCP due to dilution and treatment. Private wells drawing shallow groundwater might have different concentrations, especially near former fumigated lands. Deeper well sources are less likely to have elevated TCP. Sample depth also matters because shallower samples typically show higher variability in contaminants like TCP.
What Order Should You Follow to Rule Out Causes Before Deciding on Treatment for 1,2,3-TCP?
Start with the simplest checks before considering specialized treatment:
- Review your home's water source type and history of land use nearby.
- Check for any aesthetic or unusual changes in water quality at home.
- Collect a certified laboratory test specifically for 1,2,3-TCP concentration in your water.
- Compare your test result to regional public water data and health guidelines.
- If 1,2,3-TCP is detected at levels of concern, consider direct purchase of the Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter, which ships ready to configure for household use.
This product applies technology proven to address 1,2,3-trichloropropane in residential water effectively.
Understanding the regional water quality context, agricultural history, and your home's specific water conditions helps guide whether household treatment for 1,2,3-TCP is an appropriate step. The Jordan Valley system's record shows no health-based violations for 1,2,3-TCP, but private water sources can vary. Testing your water and considering treatment technology are key decisions to make based on your findings.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-02-19. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Jordan Valley WCD (UTAH18027), UT: 30 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level