Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter

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How did 1,2,3-trichloropropane, a soil fumigant impurity, reach groundwater decades after its primary use?

1,2,3-TCP is a chlorinated solvent once used as a component or impurity in soil fumigants from roughly the 1950s through the 1980s. Though its use declined, residues migrated slowly into deep groundwater over decades. The slow leaching reflects its chemical stability and the time needed for it to percolate through soil layers. This explains why 1,2,3-TCP can still be detected today despite discontinued applications long ago.

Why does 1,2,3-trichloropropane resist air stripping, and how does this influence treatment options?

1,2,3-TCP resists removal by air stripping because of its low volatility and strong chemical bonds. Unlike volatile organic compounds that readily evaporate, 1,2,3-TCP remains dissolved in water. This persistence means treatment methods relying on volatilization are less effective. For households, technologies using granular activated carbon or similar adsorption processes are documented as effective alternatives to address this chlorinated solvent.

What household or equipment symptoms might suggest 1,2,3-TCP is present, and which do not?

Symptoms potentially related to 1,2,3-TCP presence include unexpected taste or odor changes and staining on fixtures, although these are uncommon due to its low concentrations in typical public water systems. Equipment failure alone does not confirm 1,2,3-TCP presence, as many other factors can cause malfunctions. Testing water directly for 1,2,3-TCP by a certified laboratory is necessary to determine if it is present in your household water.

How does California's 5 ng/L (0.005 µg/L) limit for 1,2,3-TCP compare with the absence of a federal maximum contaminant level?

The City of Perrysburg's public water system under EPA monitoring from 2013–2015 showed no detections above 0.03 micrograms per liter (30 parts per trillion), a reporting level higher than California's 5 nanograms per liter (0.005 micrograms per liter) state limit. The federal EPA has not set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for TCP, so there is no enforceable federal limit. This means federal compliance data alone does not guarantee concentrations below California’s more stringent guidance. Private testing is advisable for households wanting to understand their own water quality precisely.

Which household fixtures, appliances, or processes are affected first if 1,2,3-TCP is present?

Since 1,2,3-TCP dissolves uniformly in water, it can reach all water-using points, but effects are most noticeable where water contacts filtration media or where taste and odor changes are detected. Appliances like drinking water dispensers, ice makers, and kitchen taps are often the first noticeable points because consumers directly consume water there. Bathroom fixtures are less likely to show early effects related to taste or odor changes from this constituent.

After household water treatment equipment fails, concerns about 1,2,3-TCP can arise even though government data for the City of Perrysburg system serving Wood County, OH, show no detections above the 0.03 micrograms per liter reporting level in extensive UCMR3 monitoring. To address such concerns, the documented solution available for direct purchase is the Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter, a system designed to reduce TCP measured at the household demand that you confirm through laboratory analysis. This product ships ready to configure for residential use and provides an approach to manage the presence of 1,2,3-trichloropropane when equipment replacement is necessary.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-04-30. 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 Perrysburg (OH8701803), OH: 12 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level