Autotrol 1,2,3-TCP Filter

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Making a Decision on 1,2,3-TCP Treatment This Week

If you live in Lawrence, Douglas County, you likely have questions about 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP) in your household water and whether you need to take action now.

Agricultural Land-Use History and Its Relation to 1,2,3-TCP Detections

Douglas County's landscape includes areas that were historically used for agricultural purposes, particularly between the 1950s and 1980s. During that time, soil fumigants containing chlorinated solvents were applied to enhance crop yield. Residual impurities such as 1,2,3-TCP, a chlorinated solvent, originated from these fumigants and have been found in some water sources in the region.

Sampling conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2013 to 2015 shows that within the City of Lawrence’s public water system, which serves over 95,000 people through more than 32,000 service points, no detections of 1,2,3-TCP above 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L), equivalent to parts per billion (ppb), were recorded. This suggests that any residual TCP from past agricultural use does not currently appear at detectable levels in the public supply water source, which is surface water.

How a Soil Fumigant Impurity From the 1950s–1980s Reached Deep Groundwater Decades Later

The presence of 1,2,3-trichloropropane in groundwater and surface water systems arises from its persistence in soil and its chemical stability. As an impurity in fumigants used during mid-20th-century farming practices, TCP slowly migrated downward through soil layers and into groundwater over many years. The slow transport and resistance to natural breakdown processes cause it to remain detectable decades after its initial application.

However, in Lawrence's public water system, which draws from surface water, the recorded monitoring data does not show detectable levels of TCP, indicating that this water source is less affected by deep groundwater contamination pathways.

What You Should Write Down Before Seeking Treatment Advice

Before evaluating treatment options, it is important to have certain information ready:

• The latest laboratory analysis results of your household water, specifically testing for 1,2,3-TCP, expressed in µg/L or ppb.
• The source of your water supply—whether it is public surface water or a private well.
• Any history of agricultural activity near your property that might influence groundwater quality.

Having these details can help in making an informed decision regarding any water treatment technology needed.

Why Aesthetic Secondary Standards Differ From Health-Based Limits for 1,2,3-TCP

The EPA has established secondary standards for some contaminants to address taste, staining, or odor issues, which differ from health-based limits that protect against adverse health effects. For 1,2,3-trichloropropane, no maximum contaminant level (MCL) has been federally set, but the reporting level used in monitoring is 0.03 µg/L.

Detection of TCP at or below this reporting level does not indicate a health violation or unsafe condition; it is simply a measured presence or absence in the water. The focus for consumers is to understand this distinction and not equate detection with a health risk unless further testing indicates higher concentrations.

How Public-System Records Differ From Private-Well Testing in What They Show

Public water system monitoring data, like that for the City of Lawrence, covers large populations and reflects the quality of water as it leaves the water treatment facility and enters the distribution network. These records do not represent individual household plumbing or private water sources.

Private wells, on the other hand, can have water quality that varies significantly from public supplies due to local geology, land use, and well construction. Therefore, residents relying on private wells should conduct specific laboratory testing of their own water to determine 1,2,3-TCP levels.

Interpreting Certified Laboratory Test Reports for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane

Certified water testing labs report 1,2,3-trichloropropane concentrations in micrograms per liter (µg/L) or parts per billion (ppb). When you receive a lab report, note the detection limit or reporting level, which indicates the smallest concentration the lab can reliably measure. For TCP, this is commonly 0.03 µg/L.

An absence of detection means the concentration is below this threshold, not that the water is free of TCP. Conversely, a detection at or above this level means the lab found a measurable concentration but does not imply any violation or health risk. Understanding these values helps in deciding whether treatment is necessary.

Next Step: Order a Certified Test for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane

To resolve uncertainty about 1,2,3-TCP in your household water, order a certified laboratory test that specifically includes this chlorinated solvent. The result that will settle the question is a non-detect or a concentration below 0.03 µg/L (ppb), consistent with public water system records.

If your test reports TCP at higher levels, you may consider the Autotrol 1,2,3-TCP Filter, which ships ready to configure for home water treatment and is documented to address this contaminant effectively.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-02-12. 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 Lawrence (KS2004503), KS: 8 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level