Reading Your VOC Water Test Report
Laboratory reports list specific volatile organic compounds detected and their concentrations in micrograms per liter (µg/L)
A certified laboratory will indicate detected VOCs along with reporting levels, which show the smallest concentration reliably measured. Results below reporting levels are considered non-detectable.
1. Plumbing Material and Age Factor
Household plumbing can influence VOC presence separate from the source water
Materials such as older plastic and certain sealants may release VOCs into water after it leaves the public supply. These do not reflect the contamination levels of the source water recorded by government sampling for Honolulu’s public water system.
2. Sample Size and Well Coverage in Honolulu’s VOC Data
Government VOC data covers hundreds of samples and connections to represent the area's water system
The EPA’s unregulated contaminant monitoring for Honolulu included 99 to 144 results per compound from groundwater sources serving over 106,000 connections. While extensive, this data represents the system level, not individual household variations.
Smaller sample sizes may mean more uncertainty about true VOC distribution in any single household's water
Though many samples were taken, your home’s water should be independently tested to confirm VOC levels specific to your plumbing and local intake.
3. Distinguishing VOCs from Commonly Confused Water Concerns
VOCs are chemical compounds distinct from minerals or microbial contaminants
Unlike hardness, bacteria, or sediment, VOCs like chloromethane and 1,1-dichloroethane are volatile organic chemicals typically originating from industrial or solvent residues.
Detected VOCs in public water systems often occur at levels below health-based limits and may not cause taste or odor problems
Presence does not equate to health risk; aesthetic issues arise from other dissolved solids or additives.
4. Additional Questions for Commercial or Industrial Operators
Operators may need to assess VOC fluctuations linked to site-specific activities
Businesses often require more frequent or comprehensive testing to monitor VOCs related to industrial processes that are not concerns for typical residential users.
5. Evaluating Treatment Capacity Relative to Household Water Demand
Choose a filtration system sized to handle your daily household water use volume
Understanding your number of users and typical water consumption helps ensure the filtration system delivers adequate VOC removal without performance dips.
6. Interpreting a Certified Laboratory VOC Test Report
Check the detection level against reporting thresholds for each VOC compound
Your report will show whether VOCs were detected above the laboratory’s reporting level; absence of detection means levels were below that threshold.
Compare your test specifics with EPA’s public system data to contextualize your household’s situation
The EPA found no VOC detections above reporting levels in Honolulu’s public water system from 2013 to 2015, indicating low community-wide VOC presence.
Local water quality monitoring by the EPA covers over 600,000 residents supplied by groundwater through more than 100,000 connections in Honolulu-Windward-Pearlharbor, Honolulu County. This federal data source helps inform but does not replace individual water testing.
The Fleck VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter ships ready to configure and offers technology designed to reduce VOCs documented in water supplies similar to yours. Consider this filtration option after confirming your household’s specific water quality through certified laboratory testing.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-07-15. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Honolulu/Windward/Pearl Harbor (HI0000331), HI: 738 results across 7 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level
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