If you are wondering whether volatile organic compounds (VOCs) affect your household water in Arapahoe County, the EPA’s sampling data from your area's public water system can provide useful context. This page explains the local government data, what VOCs are, and what steps you might consider next to address your water concerns.
If you know that a granular activated carbon bed’s sizing involves contact time, not just flow volume
Effective removal of VOCs in water requires a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter sized for adequate contact time, which is the period water remains in contact with the carbon. Sizing the system merely by total flow rate overlooks how long the water interacts with the filter media. Longer contact time improves the ability of the carbon bed to adsorb volatile organics such as 1,1-dichloroethane or HCFC-22, which are among the VOCs tested in Arapahoe County’s public water system.
If you understand that seasonal water-table changes can affect solvent plumes in groundwater relative to well screens
Seasonal variation in groundwater levels can shift the position of solvent plumes—concentrations of volatile organic compounds dissolved in water—relative to a well’s intake screen. In Arapahoe County, the system monitored surface water sources, but private wells drawing from varying depths may see changes in VOC levels as water tables rise or fall. Recognizing this movement is important if testing individual wells for VOCs, as concentrations can vary over time and depth.
If you are preparing to seek informed advice on water treatment options
Before reaching out for guidance on treating VOCs in your water, document the following:
- Whether your water comes from a public source or a private well
- Any recent water quality tests, including results for VOCs and other contaminants
- Details on the water volume your household uses daily
- Specific concerns such as taste, odor, or health-related questions
Having these details ready will help ensure that any recommendations align with your actual water conditions rather than regional data alone.
If you consider that the EPA’s VOC monitoring data for the East Cherry Creek Valley WSD spans 2013 through 2015
The publicly available EPA data collected from 2013 to 2015 covering the East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District shows no detections of key VOCs such as 1,1-dichloroethane, bromomethane, or MTBE above their respective reporting levels. This federal occurrence survey is not a compliance test but does indicate that, historically, these solvent compounds have not been measurable at concerning levels in the surface water source serving over 66,000 people in this part of Arapahoe County.
If you know volatility matters due to exposure routes like showering and dishwashing, not just drinking
Volatile organic compounds can enter the body not only through ingestion but also by inhalation during activities like showering or dishwashing, where VOCs can vaporize from water. This characteristic means that even low-level waterborne VOCs might contribute to household exposure through inhalation or skin contact. Understanding this makes effective filtration important for residential settings where VOCs are a concern.
If you want to understand how these VOCs enter groundwater or municipal water systems in this region
In Arapahoe County, VOCs may originate from industrial solvents, gasoline leaks, or chlorinated chemicals that leach into surface and groundwater. The water system serving your area draws from surface water, which undergoes treatment and monitoring to manage these compounds. Sources of VOCs can vary with local land use, and contamination plumes may move with groundwater flow and seasonal conditions, emphasizing the importance of thorough testing for private supplies.
In conclusion, the EPA's public water system record for Arapahoe County's East Cherry Creek Valley shows no detections of key VOCs above reporting levels during 2013–2015, indicating low occurrence in municipal water sources. To understand your household’s specific VOC situation, testing your own water supply is essential, and if VOCs are present, using a specialized filtration system like the Autotrol VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter—which ships ready to configure for residential use—can provide targeted treatment for volatile organics and solvent compounds detected in water.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-11-10. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for East Cherry Creek Valley WSD (CO0103035), CO: 150 results across 7 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level
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