Deciding on Next Steps for Household VOCs Testing
This week, homeowners in Frederick County need to decide if their water requires testing for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) based on area water-quality records and household concerns.
1. Gasoline Releases versus Dry-Cleaning Releases in Groundwater
Gasoline releases typically introduce aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, while dry-cleaning solvent releases involve compounds like perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene.
This record for Frederick's City water system shows no detection of gasoline-related VOCs nor typical dry-cleaning solvents in monitored samples.
2. VOCs Detected and Not Detected in Frederick’s Public Water System Record
Monitored volatile organics included 1,1-dichloroethane, chloromethane, bromomethane, HCFC-22, Halon 1011, 1,3-butadiene, and MTBE.
None were detected above reporting levels in the 2013-2015 EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule data for Frederick’s City system.
Absence of detection above reporting levels does not guarantee absence in individual taps; household-specific testing is necessary to confirm.
3. Seasonal and Multi-Year Variation in VOC Monitoring Results
Samples were collected between 2002 and 2015, with 2013 to 2015 data providing the most recent documented record.
No variation above reporting levels was observed across multiple sampling events for the measured VOCs.
These findings indicate stable concentrations below the measurement thresholds during the sampling period.
4. Why Volatility Matters: Exposure Routes in the Household
Volatile organic compounds, if present, can enter the body not only through drinking water but also via inhalation during activities such as showering and dishwashing.
Vaporization of solvent compounds from water contributes to potential indoor air exposure.
Testing water alone may not fully represent inhalation exposure, underscoring the importance of comprehensive household assessment.
5. Entry of VOCs into Groundwater or Distribution Systems in Frederick
The City of Frederick’s water system obtains supply from surface water sources rather than groundwater.
Surface water supplies are less likely to be affected by localized gasoline or dry-cleaning solvent leaks common in groundwater contamination.
Potential VOCs could enter via industrial discharges or runoff, but documented monitoring shows no detections above reporting levels in this system’s record.
Summary and Further Steps
Government records for the City of Frederick’s public water system, serving 54,000 people via surface water, show no VOC detections above reporting levels from 2013 to 2015 among compounds monitored under EPA’s UCMR3 program.
These data cover the distribution system level and do not reflect individual household plumbing or private well conditions.
Homeowners concerned about volatile organic compounds should arrange for in-home water testing to establish current household water quality.
For homes verifying VOC presence or aiming to reduce trace solvent compounds, the Pentair VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter ships ready to configure and is designed to reduce a variety of volatile organics and industrial chemicals commonly found in residential water.
For detailed government data, consult the EPA’s public Water System records and Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule results for the City of Frederick (MD0100015).
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-12-09. 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 Frederick (MD0100015), MD: 108 results across 7 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level