Addressing VOCs in Household Water in New Castle County: A Stepwise Guide
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VOC Reduction System Water Filter
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1. Record Local Water Quality Observations Before Exploring Treatment
Starting with water from your household fixtures, note any unusual tastes or smells that might hint at the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While these sensory clues do not confirm VOC levels, they provide practical observations to share when seeking treatment guidance. Obtain your water supply system information: your source is surface water delivered by Artesian Water Company, serving over 230,000 people in New Castle County including Bear and Hockessin.
2. Evaluate Treatment Capacity in Relation to Your Household Water Use
Determine how much water your household consumes daily to ensure your chosen treatment approach can handle that volume efficiently. Consider all water usage points — drinking, cooking, bathing, and laundry. Treatment systems designed for VOC reduction must be capable of processing the household demand without frequent maintenance or flow rate reductions.
3. Understand How VOCs Enter Your Regional Water Supply
In New Castle County, public water is sourced from surface water treated and distributed by Artesian Water Company. VOCs may enter surface water through industrial discharges, urban runoff, or atmospheric deposition. Federal monitoring from 2013–2015 detected several VOCs such as 1,1-dichloroethane and HCFC-22 in trace amounts, but no maximum contaminant level exceedances were recorded. These detections reflect the broader water system, not individual home water quality.
4. Rule Out Other Causes and Confirm with Laboratory Testing
Begin by checking for common and less costly concerns such as plumbing materials or local plumbing work that might affect water quality. Next, obtain laboratory testing of your household water to quantify specific VOC concentrations, as regional system data cannot determine your home’s water status. Confirming the identity and levels of VOCs will guide appropriate treatment selection.
5. Identify Which Water Fixtures and Appliances Are Affected First
VOCs tend to volatilize or concentrate differently across fixtures. Drinking water taps and kitchen sinks are priority points for VOC concern due to direct ingestion. Showers and baths can also expose household members through inhalation of vaporized VOCs. Appliances like ice-makers or coffee machines connected to drinking water lines may also be points to monitor or treat separately.
6. Recognize How Source Type and Sampling Methods Influence Expectations
The Artesian public system uses surface water, which may show different VOC characteristics than groundwater. Sample depth and timing influence VOC detection: surface water can reflect upstream sources variably over time. Individual well owners, not served by Artesian, should conduct their own testing to assess VOC presence accurately.
Summary: By recording observed water qualities, assessing household demand, understanding regional VOC introduction, and confirming with home water tests, you gain a clear picture for treatment decisions. The Fleck VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter is designed to address detected VOCs effectively and ships ready to configure for household use.
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