Opening Statement
The Murray City Water System, serving Salt Lake County households, reports monitoring results for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that show some detections of solvent compounds, notably HCFC-22, but no federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) were exceeded during surveys conducted from 2013 to 2015.
1. What a Laboratory's Method Detection Limit Means When a Compound Is 'Not Detected'
When a water sample result states a VOC was 'not detected,' it means the tested concentration was below the laboratory’s method detection limit (MDL) for that compound. For example, 1,1-dichloroethane was not detected above 0.03 micrograms per litre (µg/L or parts per billion, ppb), indicating the concentration, if present, falls below this reporting threshold. This does not guarantee zero presence but reflects the analytical sensitivity.
2. Why a Granular Activated Carbon Bed Is Sized for Contact Time Rather Than Flow Alone
Removing VOCs such as HCFC-22, a detected volatile organic compound in the area, requires treatment technologies that maximize contact time between water and the media. A granular activated carbon (GAC) bed filters these solvent compounds by adsorption, which depends on sufficient water-media interaction duration. Designing treatment based only on flow rate may reduce effectiveness because rapid flow can shorten contact time, limiting VOC removal.
3. Which Fixtures, Appliances or Processes Are Affected First and Why
VOCs tend to volatilize and accumulate in water heaters and hot water fixtures first due to elevated temperatures promoting off-gassing. Showers, dishwashers, and laundry machines may experience the earliest impacts of these compounds, occasionally influencing air quality where water vapor releases VOCs. Cold water taps may register lower apparent VOC levels in use.
4. The Household or Facility Symptoms That Do and Do Not Point to This Problem
Common signs potentially linked to VOCs include unusual tastes or chemical odors during hot water use, and mild respiratory irritation in poorly ventilated spaces. However, these symptoms can arise from other causes unrelated to water VOCs. The absence of symptoms does not rule out low-level VOC presence, and detected VOCs at low concentrations according to government sampling do not necessarily cause health issues.
5. How to Compare This Area’s Record With a Neighbouring County’s Without Overreading It
Sampling results show that Salt Lake County’s public water system detected HCFC-22 in 6 of 35 samples, with a highest measured concentration of 2.971 µg/L. Comparing these figures to neighbouring counties requires caution: each system’s source water, treatment, and infrastructure differ, and VOC detections reflect the system-wide condition, not individual homes. Detection frequency and concentration ranges illuminate presence but do not alone indicate risk levels without context.
6. What 'Detected', 'Median' and 'Range' Mean in the Sampling Record on This Page
‘Detected’ means the presence of a VOC was measured at or above the lab’s reporting limit. The ‘median’ of detections summarizes the middle value of recorded concentrations when VOC presence was confirmed, helping gauge typical levels. ‘Range’ refers to the lowest and highest measured concentrations found during sampling. For example, the VOC HCFC-22 showed a median detected concentration of 0.155 µg/L and a range up to 2.971 µg/L in the Murray City Water System's data.
Closing Remarks
From the government data presented, residents should not conclude their own home's water contains the same VOC levels or that the water is unsafe. Only a specific water test at the household level can determine actual VOC presence and concentration. For households considering treatment, technologies like the Fleck VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter ship ready to configure and use granular activated carbon to reduce VOCs effectively at the point of entry.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-03-27. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Murray City Water System (UTAH18024), UT: 210 results across 6 listed contaminants, 6 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for these UCMR-listed VOCs
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