Whole House 1,2,3-TCP Reduction Water Filter System - Trichloropropane Removal
When your household water equipment no longer performs as expected, concerns about specific contaminants such as 1,2,3-TCP can arise. However, understanding what government water quality records show—and what they do not—is essential before taking action.
How a soil fumigant impurity from the 1950s-1980s reached deep groundwater decades later
1,2,3-trichloropropane, a chlorinated solvent historically used as a soil fumigant and as an industrial chemical impurity, entered groundwater through past agricultural and industrial activities primarily during the mid-20th century. Due to its chemical stability and slow degradation, this constituent can persist in aquifers for decades, reaching deeper groundwater reserves well after initial use. This legacy explains why 1,2,3-TCP remains a focus in water quality assessments today, including in groundwater-sourced public water systems such as Joliet’s.
How California's 5 ng/L state limit compares with the absence of a federal MCL
While California has set a state regulatory threshold of 5 nanograms per liter (ng/L)—equivalent to 0.005 micrograms per liter (µg/L)—for 1,2,3-TCP, the federal government has not established a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for this constituent. Instead, federal monitoring via the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, which sampled Joliet’s system between 2013 and 2015, showed no detections of 1,2,3-trichloropropane above the reporting level of 0.03 µg/L (30 ng/L). This federal reporting level is higher than California’s limit, affirming a need for individual water testing to discern specific household conditions rather than relying solely on public system data.
The agricultural land-use history of the region and how it maps onto detections
Will County’s extensive agricultural history, including use of fumigants dating from the 1950s through the 1980s, contributes to the potential for 1,2,3-TCP occurrence in groundwater. Although Joliet’s public water system taps groundwater sources, EPA data for this system indicated no detections of 1,2,3-TCP above 0.03 µg/L during monitoring. This does not guarantee that every location or well is free of this chlorinated solvent, but it provides a general regional context for water quality expectations.
Which fixtures, appliances or processes are affected first and why
If 1,2,3-trichloropropane were present above noticeable amounts in household water, its primary impacts would be related to health considerations rather than taste or staining. Such contaminants typically enter the water stream uniformly, so all water-using fixtures experience the same input concentration. Treatment devices configured to address volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons can influence the quality of water reaching drinking taps, cooking appliances, and ice makers, although no selective effects occur in specific locations within a home.
What changes for a large household, a second home, or a seasonal property
Homes with higher water demand, such as larger households, second homes, or seasonal properties, may need treatment equipment sized or configured to match varied usage patterns. Since 1,2,3-TCP is stable in water and does not degrade quickly, maintaining effective treatment capacity ensures consistent performance when water consumption fluctuates. Unlike microbial contaminants that can multiply or die off, chlorinated solvents remain at relatively constant levels unless source conditions change.
How the treated water differs at the tap once the documented technology is in place
The C-Series 1,2,3-TCP Filter—ships ready to configure—employs specialized technology tested to address chlorinated solvents including 1,2,3-trichloropropane. When water passes through this filtration technology, the concentration of 1,2,3-TCP at the tap is significantly reduced compared to untreated supply water, according to documented performance specifications. This means that after configuring this equipment, households can expect improved drinking water quality where 1,2,3-TCP presence is a concern.
Given that Joliet’s public water system, serving approximately 160,000 people through 49,000 connections, sources water from groundwater with no federal MCL exceedances for 1,2,3-TCP, individual households should rely on specific water tests to determine their need for such treatment. If testing indicates elevated levels or if existing equipment has ceased functioning, the C-Series 1,2,3-TCP Filter offers a documented solution to help meet the demand and water quality expectations measured in your home.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2013-11-13. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Joliet (IL1970450), IL: 22 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level