This week, you need to decide whether your household should consider treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water supplied by the public system serving your area.
Why is a granular activated carbon bed sized for contact time rather than flow alone?
When addressing VOCs such as 1,1-dichloroethane or chloromethane, the efficiency of treatment depends heavily on contact time—the duration water spends in contact with the carbon material—rather than solely on water flow rate. Granular activated carbon (GAC) works by adsorbing VOC molecules, which requires sufficient time to do so effectively. If water flows too quickly through a filter bed, VOC molecules might not have enough time to be trapped, reducing treatment effectiveness. Therefore, filters designed to treat VOCs are sized to optimize contact time, balancing household water needs with proper contaminant removal.
Why does volatility matter: showering, dishwashing, and inhalation routes versus drinking?
Volatile organic compounds, also called solvent compounds or volatile organics, are notable for their tendency to evaporate from water into air. This means exposure can happen not only by drinking water but through inhalation and skin contact during activities like showering or dishwashing. For example, compounds like bromomethane or HCFC-22 can vaporize, potentially leading to inhalation exposure indoors. Understanding this volatility highlights why treatment solutions that reduce VOCs in water serve to reduce multiple exposure routes, beyond just ingestion.
What is the order to rule things out, from cheapest check to laboratory test?
- Check public water system records: The Cross County Rural Water System, which serves 8,750 people with 3,811 connections across Craighead, Cross, Jackson, Poinsett, St. Francis, and Woodruff Counties, draws water from groundwater sources. According to EPA's monitoring from 2013 to 2015, water samples showed no detections above reporting levels for monitored VOCs including 1,3-butadiene, MTBE, and Halon 1011.
- Verify household plumbing materials and conditions: Sometimes VOCs can enter water from plumbing rather than the source. Evaluating your pipes' age and material is a practical next step.
- Conduct laboratory testing of your household water supply: To know your personal water’s specific VOC levels, independent lab tests are necessary since public system data reflect overall system conditions, not individual homes.
How does the documented treatment technology remove or neutralize volatile organic compounds?
The C-Series VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter addresses solvent compounds by using a granular activated carbon system optimized for sufficient contact time with water. This process adsorbs a broad range of VOCs detected in monitoring programs—such as 1,1-dichloroethane, chloromethane, and MTBE—removing them from water before it reaches household taps. By reducing these volatile organics, the system helps lower the risk of exposure through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact during everyday water use.
What role does plumbing material and age play, separate from the source water?
Even when the source water from the Cross County Rural Water System shows no quantifiable VOC presence above reporting limits, household water quality can be affected by the plumbing itself. Older pipes or certain materials may leach compounds or attract volatile organics. Plumbing conditions can also influence whether VOC vapors enter water from indoor air or external contaminants. Therefore, understanding your home's plumbing and possibly testing water directly at the tap help provide a complete picture beyond public water records.
In summary, the decision about VOCs in your household water involves reviewing local public system data to understand the general presence of volatile organics, assessing your home plumbing’s potential contribution, and considering laboratory testing to know specifics for your water. Technologies like the C-Series VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter offer a documented approach to reduce these compounds, addressing multiple exposure routes with optimized contact time in granular activated carbon beds.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-01-14. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Cross County Rural Water System (AR0000459), AR: 60 results across 7 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level