Some homeowners in Enterprise, Alabama, notice a faint chemical scent or an unusual taste when using tap water for showering or dishwashing. This sensation can raise questions about the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in local drinking water. While Enterprise Waterworks, serving around 48,000 people across 16,000 connections with groundwater sources, reports no health-based violations for VOCs, understanding the nature of these compounds and treatment options is important for households evaluating removal technologies.
Why does the volatility of organic compounds matter for showering, dishwashing, and inhalation compared to drinking?
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are a group of chemicals that can evaporate easily from water into the air. This means that when water containing VOCs is heated or agitated during showering, washing dishes, or cooking, some of these compounds can enter the indoor air and be inhaled. Inhalation exposure can sometimes be more significant than the exposure from swallowing water depending on compound concentration and usage patterns. Thus, household concern extends beyond just drinking water and includes vapor inhalation and dermal contact.
Why is a granular activated carbon (GAC) bed sized for contact time rather than just flow rate?
Filtering VOCs from water effectively requires enough time for the water to interact with the granular activated carbon. This means the bed’s size and configuration focus on ensuring sufficient contact time, allowing the carbon to adsorb solvent compounds efficiently. Simply increasing flow rate without appropriate bed size reduces treatment effectiveness. Properly designed activated carbon systems account for this balance to remove volatile organics like 1,1-dichloroethane and chloromethane, which were monitored in the local water supply.
What do the measured VOC concentrations in Enterprise water reveal compared to federal standards, and what don’t they reveal?
- Between 2013 and 2015, Enterprise Waterworks underwent federal unregulated contaminant monitoring (UCMR3) for VOCs including 1,1-dichloroethane, chloromethane, and bromomethane.
- None of the 34 sample results showed detections above the reporting levels (ranging from 0.03 to 0.2 micrograms per liter [µg/L], or parts per billion [ppb]).
- These VOCs have no established Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), so the data do not indicate any legal limits exceeded or health risks identified.
- Detection or non-detection in a public system’s samples does not determine the specific VOC concentration in an individual household’s water. Testing a home's water directly is necessary for that information.
Which household fixtures, appliances, or processes are influenced first by the presence of VOCs and why?
VOCs can volatilize more readily when water is heated or agitated. Showers and hot water taps, which disperse steam and aerosols, often show observable effects first since inhalation exposure to airborne volatile organics is increased. Dishwashers, washing machines, and kitchen faucets also contribute but typically involve less direct inhalation. Cold water used for drinking or cooking usually presents the lowest inhalation exposure risk but remains relevant for ingestion concerns if VOCs are present.
How do seasonal water-table changes affect a solvent plume’s position relative to a well screen?
Groundwater levels in Enterprise’s aquifers fluctuate seasonally, potentially shifting the vertical position of solvent plumes containing VOCs relative to well screens that draw water. This movement means VOC concentrations at the point of water withdrawal may vary over time. Continuous or periodic testing provides the best indication of current water quality because the plume can rise or fall with the water table, affecting VOC presence in the supply.
What should you not conclude from area-wide VOC data about your household water?
Although Enterprise’s drinking water system monitoring has found no detections of VOCs above reporting levels during federal surveys, this does not guarantee that every well or tap has zero VOCs at all times. Public system data provide a broad regional picture but cannot substitute for specific testing if you suspect VOC presence at your home. Additionally, the absence of federal MCLs for these VOCs means no regulatory health-based limits exist for comparison. Choosing a treatment method should be based on actual water testing results and household needs rather than solely on area monitoring.
For homes considering reliable VOC removal, the C-Series VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter is designed to reduce volatile organic compounds at the point of use using granular activated carbon technology sized for effective contact time. This filtration equipment ships ready to configure and addresses the vapor and ingestion pathways involved with solvent compounds.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-03-09. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Enterprise Waterworks (AL0000296), AL: 224 results across 7 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level