How a Soil Fumigant Impurity from the 1950s-1980s Reached Deep Groundwater Decades Later
1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) is a chlorinated solvent originally found as an impurity in soil fumigants used extensively from roughly the 1950s to the 1980s. Despite its discontinued use, this compound can persist in groundwater and surface water, slowly migrating over decades. In St. Charles and St. Louis County public water systems, which draw from surface water, the potential for TCP presence derives from historical use upstream or in surrounding areas, with transport through watershed pathways contributing to its presence in the water supply.
How Many Samples and Wells Stand Behind the Figures, and What a Small Sample Means
The available data for the MO American Water Co. serving St. Charles and St. Louis County stems from 20 samples collected between February and November of 2013. Throughout these samples, 1,2,3-TCP was never detected above the reporting level of 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L), or 0.03 parts per billion (ppb). This federal monitoring data reflects a snapshot of the larger public water system, not individual household wells or plumbing. Because the sample number is limited and focused on system-level monitoring rather than specific customer locations, the data provides reassurance about system-wide concentrations but does not establish specific well or tap water conditions for any particular household.
The Role of Plumbing Material and Age, Separate From the Source Water
While the public water system's record shows no detection of TCP above the analytical threshold, an individual household’s experience can differ due to factors unrelated to source water quality. Plumbing materials, pipe age, and contact time can influence water chemistry and may lead to different local outcomes after equipment failure. For example, malfunctioning treatment gear or changes in household piping can alter contaminant presence or aesthetic qualities. Thus, testing at the point of use is necessary after equipment failure to understand your household water's specific condition rather than relying solely on the system’s historical monitoring.
What Questions a Commercial or Industrial Operator Adds That a Household Does Not
Commercial or industrial users often require continuous monitoring and stricter control of 1,2,3-trichloropropane due to larger water volumes and regulatory compliance obligations. They must consider system maintenance schedules, treatment redundancy, and downstream effects. Households, while less regulated, face the immediate need to address any treatment failures that affect water quality. While municipal records show no health-based violations for TCP, residential users must focus on their equipment’s performance and water tests to ensure ongoing safety and aesthetic acceptability.
What Happens When This Problem Is Left Untreated for Years, Stated Without Exaggeration
If 1,2,3-TCP were present at measurable levels and left untreated in a household after treatment equipment failure, the issue could persist indefinitely since TCP is a persistent organic compound not removed by standard water softening or filtration. The potential concerns involve long-term exposure to low levels of chlorinated solvents, which have been studied for health effects. However, in the St. Charles and St. Louis County system, federal monitoring found no detectable TCP above reporting limits in samples, meaning the widespread presence of significant concentrations is unlikely. Still, verifying your household water through testing is essential when treatment equipment fails to avoid prolonged exposure to unknown contaminants.
How the Documented Treatment Technology Removes or Neutralises the Constituent
The specialized Autotrol 1,2,3-TCP Filter is designed to address chlorinated solvents like 1,2,3-trichloropropane at the household level. Using advanced filtration technology within the Autotrol System, it effectively reduces TCP concentrations measured in micrograms per liter or parts per billion. The system ships ready to configure, enabling replacement or upgrading after existing equipment fails, providing a targeted solution for owners seeking to manage this specific compound. While general filtration may not address TCP adequately, this filter focuses on that constituent based on documented performance.
In summary, this week's decision involves understanding the region's historical TCP presence, the robustness of municipal average data versus your property's specific water quality, and the need for household-level testing after equipment failure. The Autotrol 1,2,3-TCP Filter offers a documented means to address TCP if testing confirms its presence in your water supply.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2013-11-06. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for MO American Water Co. - St. Louis County (MO6010716), MO: 20 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level