Fleck 1,2,3-TCP Filter

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Legacy Soil Fumigants and Their Impact on Groundwater

The public water supply serving Chandler in Maricopa County draws primarily from surface water sources. Historically, 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) entered the environment as an impurity in soil fumigants used extensively in the mid-20th century, from about the 1950s through the 1980s. These fumigants have persisted in certain regions, slowly making their way through soil layers and potentially reaching groundwater and connected surface water bodies decades later. This delayed migration means that water systems today may continue to monitor for TCP contamination stemming from these past agricultural practices.

Importance of Granular Activated Carbon Bed Depth for TCP Contact Time

Removing chlorinated solvents like 1,2,3-TCP from water differs significantly from treating taste or odor issues. The effectiveness of granular activated carbon (GAC) depends heavily on the contact time between the water and the carbon bed. For TCP, which is a persistent chlorinated solvent, a sufficiently deep carbon bed is essential to allow enough interaction time for adsorption. This differs from aesthetic concerns where shallower beds might suffice; with TCP, deeper beds better ensure the chlorinated solvent is adsorbed and not passed through.

Household Symptoms Related to TCP Presence

Households concerned about 1,2,3-TCP may wonder what signs indicate its presence. TCP is a chlorinated solvent and does not produce odors, tastes, staining, or immediate visible effects that typical water users notice. Therefore, symptoms such as discoloration or unpleasant taste are not caused by TCP. Confirming its presence requires specific laboratory water testing targeting 1,2,3-trichloropropane at micrograms per liter (µg/L) levels, rather than relying on sensory observations.

Plumbing Materials and Age Are Independent Factors

The influence of plumbing materials or the age of household pipes on water quality issues often raises questions. While plumbing conditions can affect factors like corrosion or lead presence, these are separate from 1,2,3-TCP in the source water. TCP originates from the water supplied to the household rather than from pipe materials or internal plumbing. Thus, detecting or addressing TCP involves examining the source water and its treatment rather than household plumbing infrastructure.

How the Fleck System Handles 1,2,3-Trichloropropane

To manage chlorinated solvents such as 1,2,3-TCP effectively, filtration with granular activated carbon technology is documented as a reliable option. The Fleck 1,2,3-TCP Filter ships ready to configure and uses an appropriately deep carbon bed to maximize the contact time necessary for adsorption of this chlorinated solvent. This method does not chemically neutralize TCP but rather physically removes it from the water flowing through the carbon media, reducing its concentration in the household supply.

Mapping Agricultural Land Use and TCP Detection in Maricopa County

Maricopa County's agricultural history includes periods when soil fumigants containing TCP impurities were applied. Government monitoring of Chandler's public water system recorded no detections of 1,2,3-TCP above the reporting level of 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L) during a federal occurrence survey between 2014 and 2015. This means that despite historical land use, the current public surface water supply serving over 247,000 people shows no measurable TCP presence by these federal detection standards. However, private wells or other sources might differ, and specific testing would be necessary for individual confirmation.

Summary and Reference to Government Data Scope

This summary is based strictly on the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) public water system record for the City of Chandler, Arizona, which serves more than 81,000 connections through surface water sources. These records reflect system-wide monitored findings and not individual household water quality. For those seeking detailed information or testing results beyond the system scope, individual water testing is essential. All factual data referenced here are from the EPA's publicly accessible occurrence monitoring under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3).

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-11-06. 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 Chandler (AZ0407090), AZ: 58 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level