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Opening Statement on Government Sampling for 1,4-Dioxane in Catoosa County

Government testing under EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) for 2013-2015 showed that 1,4-dioxane was not detected above the reporting level in the public water system serving Ringgold, Catoosa County, GA.

1. Why a Low-Level Detection Is Reported to Three Decimal Places and What Precision Means Here

When 1,4-dioxane is monitored, laboratory instruments report concentrations with high precision, often to three decimals in micrograms per liter (µg/L), or parts per billion (ppb). This level of precision allows detection of trace amounts, even those well below federal reference concentrations. However, a measurement below the reporting level means the instrument did not find quantifiable amounts, not necessarily that the constituent is completely absent.

2. How Landfill Leachate, Degreasing Sites and Consumer Products Each Contribute to the Record

1,4-Dioxane, a cyclic ether used primarily as a solvent stabilizer, can enter water supplies from various sources. Landfill leachate may introduce it as breakdown products from disposed chemicals. Industrial degreasing sites historically used solvents containing 1,4-dioxane, which may leach into nearby surface waters. Additionally, some consumer products contribute to trace environmental presence. These sources collectively influence the monitoring record but do not pinpoint individual household water quality.

3. A Worked Example: Reading the Record's Median and Range as a Homeowner Would

Between March and December 2015, fourteen samples from the Catoosa Utility District Authority’s surface water supply found no detections of 1,4-dioxane above the reporting level of 0.07 µg/L (0.07 ppb). This means the median concentration is below 0.07 µg/L, and the range does not show values above this level.

4. What the Measured Range Means Against the Relevant Federal Standard, and What It Does Not Mean

The EPA's cancer risk reference concentration for 1,4-dioxane is 0.35 µg/L (0.35 ppb). Since no samples exceeded the reporting limit, which is below the reference concentration, the data indicate levels are below the threshold of federal health concern in this public water system. However, this result is not a substitute for testing at individual taps, where conditions can differ.

5. The Difference Between a UCMR3 Detection and a State Notification Level for Dioxane

UCMR3 detections are federal monitoring results measuring concentrations to understand occurrence; they are not compliance measurements and do not imply health-based violations. Some states may have notification levels for 1,4-dioxane that differ from federal benchmarks. It is important to distinguish that UCMR3 detections only provide occurrence information and are not enforceable limits.

6. How Many Samples and Wells Stand Behind the Figures, and What a Small Sample Means

The reported data for Catoosa Utility District Authority is based on fourteen samples from their public system serving over 56,000 people. While this scope is substantial for system-wide monitoring, it cannot reflect localized or individual well variations for homeowners. More frequent individual testing is necessary to know your household's specific 1,4-dioxane concentration.

Closing Summary and Government Data Source

The EPA's monitoring data covers the public water system in Ringgold, Catoosa County, and shows no quantifiable levels of 1,4-dioxane above 0.07 µg/L during 2013-2015. These findings do not indicate unsafe water but provide a baseline for understanding the presence of the solvent stabilizer in the community's water supply. For detailed information and original records, visit the EPA's UCMR website.

Households seeking an effective solution for potential 1,4-dioxane in their water can consider the Fleck 1,4-Dioxane Filter, which ships ready to configure for residential use.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-12-07. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Catoosa Utility District Authority (GA0470000), GA: 14 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level