Fleck Perchlorate Filter

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1. Recognizing Water Differences in Larger or Seasonal Homes

If your household is larger than average, a second home, or used seasonally, you might notice changes in how your water tastes or reacts with plumbing fixtures at times of heavier use or after periods of inactivity. These variations can affect how constituents like perchlorate behave in your household plumbing, but keep in mind that such observations do not specify perchlorate levels themselves. The public water system serving Savannah, including Chatham County, uses groundwater as its source and supports tens of thousands of connections, meaning your experience may also be influenced by broader system factors.

2. Understanding What Savannah’s Perchlorate Measurements Actually Indicate

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a monitoring survey from 2001 to 2005 for perchlorate on the Savannah public water system, which supplies your area. In this period, none of the 16 samples collected showed perchlorate concentrations above the reporting threshold of 4.0 micrograms per liter (µg/L). Currently, there is no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) set for perchlorate, so these detections are not violations and do not imply any safety concern. This means the measured range for perchlorate in this system’s groundwater has remained below levels considered actionable by federal standards at that time.

3. How Perchlorate Can Reach Groundwater and Distribution Systems in Chatham

Perchlorate is a chemical that can enter groundwater through various sources such as industrial activity, agricultural practices involving certain fertilizers, and atmospheric deposition. In areas like Savannah and Chatham County that rely on groundwater, this means perchlorate can potentially be present due to these environmental factors. The local public water system draws from groundwater sources and treats water to meet all health-based regulatory requirements, although perchlorate itself has been monitored rather than regulated with a maximum contaminant level.

4. Plumbing Materials and Age: Their Impact Separate from Groundwater Quality

The materials used in household plumbing and the age of your pipes can influence water characteristics like taste and minor staining, but they do not affect the presence or concentration of perchlorate sourced from groundwater or the distribution system. Perchlorate is a dissolved chemical ion that does not interact with pipe materials in the way that metals like iron or lead might. Therefore, any concerns about perchlorate should focus on the source water rather than plumbing infrastructure.

5. A Practical Example: Interpreting Savannah’s Perchlorate Data as a Homeowner

Imagine reviewing the EPA’s reported perchlorate results for the Savannah-Main public water system. Sixteen measurements were taken between October 2001 and May 2002, all below the 4.0 µg/L reporting level. Since no federal MCL exists and no health-based violation has been recorded, this median and range information shows that perchlorate occurrences in the system were consistently low during that period. For a homeowner, this means the local water system’s perchlorate levels have been low enough to avoid regulatory concern, though your own home’s water quality can only be confirmed by individual testing.

6. The Critical Step: Testing Your Home’s Water to Confirm Perchlorate Levels

The only way to determine perchlorate concentration in your household water is through a certified laboratory test of your specific water supply. Public system records provide a helpful regional baseline but cannot substitute for testing at your tap or well. Once you have your test results, you may consider a Fleck Perchlorate Filter, a system that ships ready to configure for residential treatment and is documented to reduce perchlorate when present. This approach offers a solution tailored to your home’s actual water conditions rather than relying solely on regional data.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2002-05-15. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR1 monitoring (2001-2005) for SAVANNAH-MAIN (GA0510003), GA: 16 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level