The City of Laramie’s water system draws from surface water sources and serves more than 32,000 people in Albany County, Wyoming. Water is treated and delivered through a network of nearly 10,000 connections to homes and businesses. This page clarifies common misconceptions about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in local water based on EPA monitoring data, helping you understand what these results mean for your household water.
What a Laboratory’s Method Detection Limit Means When a Compound Is 'Not Detected'
Government surveys report VOCs such as 1,1-dichloroethane, chloromethane, bromomethane, HCFC-22, Halon 1011, 1,3-butadiene, and MTBE were tested in Laramie’s public water system. None of these VOCs were measured above the specific method detection limits; for example, 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L) for 1,1-dichloroethane and 5.0 µg/L for MTBE. A "not detected" result means concentrations were below these minimum reporting levels, not necessarily that the compound is absent or present at zero. This distinction is important because laboratory sensitivity limits what can be confidently reported. To know your own water’s VOC levels exactly, testing your household water through a certified lab is needed.
Why Volatility Matters: Showering, Dishwashing and Inhalation Versus Drinking
Volatile organic compounds are chemicals prone to evaporate from water into air. While ingestion through drinking is one exposure route, inhalation during showering, bathing, or dishwashing can contribute significantly to household VOC exposure. The volatility means that airborne VOCs may enter indoor air and be breathed in, sometimes at levels of greater concern than those found in drinking water. Understanding these routes helps prioritize whether treatment should focus on reducing waterborne concentrations or managing air quality.
The Order in Which to Rule Things Out, From Cheapest Check to Laboratory Test
If your current VOC treatment equipment is not working as expected, start with simple steps before complex testing:
- Check if pre-filters need changing or if there are system faults causing bypass.
- Verify if any household contaminants might affect the equipment's performance.
- If these basic checks do not explain the issue, collecting a water sample for a certified laboratory VOC analysis will provide precise data for your home’s water.
This systematic approach helps avoid unnecessary lab expenses and targets the source of treatment failure.
What Distinguishes This Problem From the Two Problems Most Often Confused With It
VOC concerns are often mistaken for issues related to taste, odor, or visible water quality problems caused by minerals or other substances. Unlike iron or manganese staining or hardness, which are common aesthetic water issues, VOCs are a class of chemical solvents and industrial compounds that require distinct testing and treatment approaches. Understanding this difference ensures appropriate responses rather than ineffective solutions designed for unrelated water qualities.
How Seasonal Water-Table Changes Move a Solvent Plume Relative to a Well Screen
In groundwater-fed systems, seasonal rises and falls in the water table can shift contaminant plumes, including VOCs, in relation to wells' intake zones. While Laramie’s surface water source is less affected by groundwater fluctuations, households relying on private wells or nearby groundwater may experience varying VOC concentrations over time due to these natural movements. Awareness of seasonal variability supports timely testing and treatment decisions.
For households experiencing treatment equipment failure and concerns about VOCs or industrial chemicals in Albany County water, the documented Fleck VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter ships ready to configure and is designed to reduce volatile organic compounds effectively. Coupling your measured VOC demand with this technology can help restore confidence in your water quality management.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2013-11-19. 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 Laramie (WY5600029), WY: 80 results across 7 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level
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