Fleck 1,2,3-TCP Filter

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1. Reading a test report for 1,2,3-trichloropropane in your water

A laboratory test report for 1,2,3-trichloropropane (also known as TCP or 1,2,3-TCP) typically lists the concentration in micrograms per liter (µg/L), equivalent to parts per billion (ppb). The report might note if the concentration is below the reporting level, as in many cases, measurements can be too low to detect. For example, the Mayaguez public water system in Puerto Rico reported no detections of 1,2,3-trichloropropane above 0.03 µg/L in over 50 samples taken during federal monitoring from 2013 to 2016.

2. How 1,2,3-trichloropropane from historical fumigants reaches groundwater

This chlorinated solvent was commonly found as an impurity in soil fumigants used predominantly from the 1950s through the 1980s. Due to its chemical stability and mobility, TCP has the potential to leach slowly through soil layers and enter deep groundwater reservoirs many years after its original application. This delayed migration means that traces might still show up in water sources long after fumigants were in use.

3. The relationship between agricultural land use and 1,2,3-TCP detections in Puerto Rico

Areas with historical agricultural activity, particularly where soil fumigants were applied, correlate with documented detections of 1,2,3-trichloropropane in underlying water supplies. Although the Mayaguez water system records show zero detections above the reporting level, these measurements reflect the system as a whole and not individual wells. Land-use history can highlight locations where localized presence of TCP might be more likely if private wells draw from shallow groundwater in former agricultural zones.

4. Interpreting the significance of monitoring data and sample size

The Mayaguez public system submitted 52 samples during federal monitoring efforts, all revealing TCP concentrations below 0.03 µg/L. While this sample size provides a general picture for the system's distribution network, it does not measure every individual water source. Homeowners with private wells should consider specific testing to determine their water's TCP level, as the absence of detections in the public system is not an absolute guarantee for each well or fixture.

5. Which water uses are most relevant when considering 1,2,3-trichloropropane presence

TCP is a volatile chlorinated solvent that can affect water used for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Since it dissolves readily in water and is not readily biodegradable, the concern centers on ingestion and prolonged exposure through those routes. Appliances that process water, such as coffee makers and ice machines, draw from household water but do not concentrate TCP. Plumbing fixtures themselves do not accumulate this constituent. Assessing the water source and investing in treatment technologies appropriate for chlorinated solvents, like the Fleck 1,2,3-TCP Filter, can address these concerns efficiently.

In summary, the Mayaguez public water system in Puerto Rico reported zero detections above 0.03 µg/L of 1,2,3-trichloropropane in federal monitoring from 2013 through 2016, indicating no health-based violations tied to this compound in that system. For homeowners evaluating their water quality concerning this chlorinated solvent, specific well or tap testing is necessary because regional monitoring data cannot confirm individual water sources. These official EPA records and monitoring results are publicly accessible through the EPA’s database for unregulated contaminant monitoring.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2016-12-13. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Mayaguez (PR0003283), PR: 52 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level