At a faucet in Riverton, you might notice no unusual smell or taste in your water, yet volatile organic compounds—VOCs—are substances that could be present even if undetectable by senses alone. These solvent compounds can enter water and affect how you use it daily.
1. Why Volatility Matters: Showering, Dishwashing, and Inhalation vs Drinking
VOCs are volatile organics, meaning they can evaporate into the air from water during common household activities. Showering and dishwashing release these compounds, potentially leading to inhalation exposure. The respiratory route can be as significant as ingestion when considering VOCs, so assessing water quality means thinking beyond just drinking water.
2. How Seasonal Water-Table Changes Move a Solvent Plume Relative to a Well Screen
In Riverton, groundwater levels and surface water influence can shift over seasons. Changes in the water table might move a VOC plume—an underground concentration of these compounds—closer or farther from a well screen. This movement affects how VOCs enter a household water supply but is not directly established by the public system data alone.
3. Why a Granular Activated Carbon Bed Is Sized for Contact Time Rather Than Flow Alone
Treatment devices for VOCs use granular activated carbon (GAC) beds to trap volatile organics. The key to their effectiveness is contact time—how long water remains in contact with the carbon—not merely the flow rate. Proper sizing means ensuring VOCs have enough time to absorb onto the carbon, thus reducing their presence in water.
4. What the Measured Range Means Against the Relevant Federal Standard, and What It Does Not Mean
The City of Riverton’s public water system underwent federal monitoring from 2013 to 2015 for several VOCs, including 1,1-dichloroethane, chloromethane, bromomethane, HCFC-22, Halon 1011, and 1,3-butadiene. None of these compounds were detected above reporting levels, which are in the range of 0.03 to 0.2 micrograms per liter (µg/L), or parts per billion (ppb). These measurements do not indicate violations or unsafe levels but document that VOCs were not measurable above set detection thresholds during sampling.
5. How the Constituent Enters Groundwater or the Distribution System in This Region
In Fremont County, sources of VOCs can include industrial solvents, degreasers, or historic releases that seep through soil into groundwater or enter surface water supplies. The City of Riverton draws water from surface sources, which can be affected by runoff or discharges containing solvent compounds. The public system treatment and monitoring provide a baseline but cannot replace testing of individual household wells or plumbing.
6. How to Judge Treatment Capacity Against the Household’s or Facility’s Daily Demand
If your household decides on VOC treatment, knowing the daily water use helps select a system sized for your volume needs. A treatment system using granular activated carbon must handle peak and average flows, ensuring adequate contact time throughout daily use—showers, cooking, washing—without reducing water pressure or effectiveness.
Final Step: Testing Your Water to Settle the Question
The single definitive action to determine your water’s VOC status is to order a laboratory test specific for volatile organic compounds. This test should sample your household water directly and compare detected concentrations against health guidelines. Results will clarify whether treatment like the Fleck VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter, which ships ready to configure, fits your needs. This system is documented to address VOCs effectively by utilizing granular activated carbon technology tailored for solvent compound reduction.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2013-08-26. 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 Riverton (WY5600047), WY: 168 results across 6 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level
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