This week you need to decide if the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in the Brookfield Water Utility system warrant testing your household water and considering filtration options.
How does a gasoline release differ from a dry-cleaning release in what it leaves in groundwater?
Different sources of VOCs release distinct compound profiles into groundwater. A gasoline release often contains a mix of hydrocarbons like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, which are common gasoline constituents. Dry-cleaning solvent releases, however, typically involve chlorinated solvents such as perchloroethylene or trichloroethylene. These source differences influence which VOCs appear in water monitoring results.
How do seasonal water-table changes move a solvent plume relative to a well screen?
Seasonal fluctuations in the water table can cause subsurface dissolved solvent plumes to move vertically or horizontally. During wetter seasons, groundwater levels rise, which may lower contaminant concentrations near a well screen or move solvent plumes farther from intake zones. Conversely, in drier seasons, water levels drop, potentially concentrating VOCs near well screens as the plume shifts closer to intake depths.
How do sample depth, well depth, or source type change what a reader should expect?
Sample depth and well construction significantly affect the VOC profile seen in tests. Shallow wells may show different VOC concentrations compared to deeper wells due to proximity to contamination sources or varying geology. The groundwater source itself—whether shallow aquifers or deep confined aquifers—also determines which VOCs may be present and at what levels. Therefore, one home’s water sample can differ notably from area-wide public system monitoring.
How do public-system records differ from private-well testing in what they establish?
The Brookfield Water Utility public system serves over 29,000 people and provides data aggregated across many connections. Government monitoring under the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) detected VOCs such as 1,1-dichloroethane, HCFC-22, and trace chlorinated gases in the public system groundwater. However, these detections do not directly specify concentrations in any individual household’s water. Private well testing is essential to determine a home’s specific VOC levels because system-wide data reflects averages and ranges rather than discrete wells.
What is the maintenance rhythm of the documented technology in plain terms?
The Pentair VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter employs granular activated carbon to reduce volatile organics and industrial solvents. Regular replacement of the carbon media is necessary to maintain effective VOC removal. Typically, media saturation is monitored by usage time and water volume passed through the filter, with manufacturer guidance indicating when to refresh filter components to ensure consistent performance. This equipment ships ready to configure at your point of use without requiring specialized service visits.
What do 'detected', 'median', and 'range' mean in the sampling record on this page?
'Detected' means the measurement instrument found the VOC at or above a set reporting level during sampling—this is not a violation or unsafe reading. For example, 1,1-dichloroethane was detected in 2 of 34 samples with values up to 0.13 micrograms per liter (µg/L), or parts per billion (ppb). The 'median' of detections (0.1275 µg/L) indicates the middle value among detected samples, while the 'range' shows minimum to maximum observed levels. None of these measurements exceeded federal maximum contaminant levels because no federal standard exists for the specific VOCs monitored here. They serve as indicators for potential presence, guiding further household water testing.
These EPA monitoring results for the Brookfield Water Utility cover data from 2013 to 2015 and reflect VOC presence in the public groundwater system serving this region of Waukesha County. For detailed federal data access, consult the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) public database.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-03-18. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Brookfield Water Utility (WI2680253), WI: 236 results across 7 listed contaminants, 3 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for these UCMR-listed VOCs
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