If You Are a Commercial or Industrial Operator, What Additional Questions Arise?
While this page focuses on residential concerns, commercial or industrial users would need to consider factors beyond household scales. Larger volumes of water and varied water uses may require reviewing detailed system data over extended periods and assessing batch or process-specific risks. They would also want to compare perchlorate occurrences with performance standards for their operations, potentially consulting additional local and federal guidelines.
If You Are a Homeowner, How Should You Interpret the Memphis Perchlorate Sampling Record?
The Memphis Light, Gas & Water system, serving 659,500 people in Shelby County through groundwater sources, recorded no perchlorate detections above the federal reporting level of 4.0 micrograms per liter in twenty samples collected between 2002 and 2005. No federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for perchlorate exists, and the system's record shows no health-based violations related to perchlorate. This data reflects system-wide measurements, not individual household water. To understand your specific home's perchlorate levels, personal water testing is necessary.
If Your Plumbing System Uses Older or Varied Materials, How Could That Affect Your Perchlorate Concern?
Perchlorate presence in water relates to the source rather than internal plumbing. However, older plumbing materials or certain pipe types may influence overall water quality characteristics but do not generate or remove perchlorate. For perchlorate-specific concerns, plumbing age and materials have minimal direct impact. Still, maintaining plumbing in good condition ensures consistent water quality and accurate testing results.
If You Know Your Household’s Daily Water Use, How Can You Judge the Needed Treatment Capacity?
Estimating your daily water demand supports selecting appropriate treatment capacity. Household use varies with family size and lifestyle but often averages around 80-100 gallons per person per day. Once you obtain your home's perchlorate test results, you can match that figure against a filtration system designed to handle your daily volume. Systems like the C-Series Perchlorate Filter ship ready to configure for typical residential flows, delivering effective perchlorate reduction matched to your demand.
If Perchlorate Is Present and Left Without Treatment, What Are the Long-Term Considerations?
Perchlorate is a chemical that can interfere with iodine uptake into the thyroid gland, potentially affecting hormone production. Its presence in water over time may contribute to thyroid-related health concerns. However, the Memphis water system's record indicates no perchlorate detected above reporting levels, suggesting low exposure risk from the supply. Individual testing is essential to confirm your water’s condition. When perchlorate is found at concerning levels, appropriate filtration can reduce exposure.
If You Want to Compare Shelby County’s Perchlorate Data with a Neighboring County, What Should You Keep in Mind?
Comparing area data requires considering differences in water sources, sampling methods, and monitoring schedules. Perchlorate detections vary naturally by geography and industrial history. Shelby County’s groundwater supply shows no reported detections above reporting levels, but neighboring counties with different water systems may have differing results. Use comparisons cautiously and rely on your water test for household-specific decisions.
The C-Series Perchlorate Filter provides a documented method to reduce perchlorate concentrations based on your measured household water demand. Confirm your home's perchlorate level with a qualified water test, then consider this ready-to-configure system to address your treatment needs effectively.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2002-12-18. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR1 monitoring (2001-2005) for MEMPHIS LIGHT, GAS, & WATER (TN0000450), TN: 20 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level