VOCs in Household Water: Understanding Your New Castle County, DE Public Water System Record
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If you see 'detected' and 'median' in your area's VOC water data, what does that mean?
The EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) results for the Artesian Water Company, which serves Bear, Hockessin, and all of New Castle County, DE, report measurements for several volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The terms 'detected,' 'median,' and 'range' reflect how often and at what levels these compounds appeared during sampling from 2013 to 2015. 'Detected' means the compound was measured above the limit at least once—not that the water is unsafe. The 'median' is the middle value of all detected measurements, and the 'highest' is the maximum found during the monitoring period. These values represent system-wide sampling, not one particular home.
If your concern is personal water safety, how do these public system records differ from private well testing?
The public water system data summarize water quality from surface sources treated and distributed across many households. This broad monitoring helps identify regional water characteristics but does not specify individual home water quality. Private wellwater quality can vary widely even within the same area. To know the VOC levels in your own household water, testing of your specific water supply is necessary, since the public system record does not establish conditions at your tap.
If the report shows only a few detections among dozens of samples, what does a small sample size imply?
For this water system, 34 to 36 samples were taken for each VOC analyzed, a moderate number for a public system survey. When only one or two samples detect a compound, this suggests VOC presence is not widespread or consistent but cannot rule out localized variations. Small numbers of detections mean that occasional elevated measurements could result from many factors, including environmental conditions or sampling variability.
If you operate a commercial or industrial facility instead of a residence, what additional questions come up?
Commercial or industrial users often require more detailed information on VOCs because of potential process impacts or stricter discharge regulations. They might ask about peak VOC levels, variations by season, or specific VOC removal efficiency to meet operational standards. Household concerns usually center on health, taste, and odor rather than regulatory compliance or equipment compatibility.
If you sense VOCs in your water, how can you distinguish this problem from other similar household water issues?
VOCs are organic chemicals that can cause odors or off-tastes but differ from minerals or metals that cause hardness, staining, or corrosion. VOCs generally do not cause visible signs like discoloration or sediment. Problems such as iron or manganese build-up are separate from VOC concerns, although both might require treatment. Knowing whether your issue is VOC-related depends on testing designed specifically to detect these chemicals rather than relying on general water quality indicators.
If you use a Fleck VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter in your home, how does your tap water change?
The Fleck System for VOCs and industrial chemicals is designed to reduce VOCs found in water supplies similar to the Artesian Water Company's system. Once configured at your home, it works to lower the concentrations of detected VOCs such as 1,1-dichloroethane and HCFC-22, improving water taste and safety perception. Treated water at the tap should have significantly reduced volatile organic compounds, helping address your concerns about VOC presence without the need for large-scale or commercial-grade equipment.
To settle your specific situation, the single best step is to order a comprehensive VOC water test from a certified laboratory for your household water. A result showing VOC levels at or below the detection limits typical for your public water system would indicate your water quality is consistent with public records and that additional treatment might not be necessary. Conversely, elevated levels would justify using a dedicated VOC filtration system like the Fleck VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter to manage your water quality at home.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-07-16. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Artesian Water Company (DE0000552), DE: 250 results across 7 listed contaminants, 3 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for these UCMR-listed VOCs