Pentair Perchlorate Filter

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Making a Water Safety Choice for Your Household This Week

Deciding whether perchlorate in your home's water is a concern requires understanding regional public water data and how it relates to your private supply.

What Dover’s Perchlorate Measurements Mean—and Don’t Mean

The Dover Water Department's records, serving over 39,000 residents, show no perchlorate detections above the reporting level of 4.0 µg/L in 28 samples during 2003-2005. Because perchlorate is unregulated federally with no established maximum contaminant level (MCL), these measurements are simply evidence of what was found or not found, not indicators of safety or violation. A measured detection indicates that an instrument identified perchlorate at or above a threshold; a non-detection means it was below that threshold. Neither alone defines health risk.

Public Water System Records Versus Private Well Testing

Public water monitoring data comes from samples collected at specific points in the water system, representing community supply sourced from groundwater. This data reflects the water as treated and distributed to many homes, not individual household plumbing. Private well water, by contrast, can vary widely even within the same area and requires personal testing to determine perchlorate levels precisely.

Interpreting the Regional Data as a Homeowner

With zero perchlorate detections across all tested samples, the median and range for the system are effectively below 4.0 µg/L. For a Dover resident, this suggests perchlorate isn't commonly present at detectable levels in the public supply. However, without direct testing of your home's water, you cannot conclude your water matches this profile, especially if you use a private well.

Influence of Source and Sample Depth on Perchlorate Presence

Dover’s water system relies on groundwater from wells. Groundwater perchlorate levels can vary depending on aquifer characteristics, well depth, and local contamination sources such as fertilizer or industrial chemicals. Shallower groundwater may be more susceptible to perchlorate infiltration. Therefore, knowing your water source and its depth helps estimate perchlorate risk but does not replace testing.

How the Pentair Perchlorate Filter Addresses Water Treatment

The Pentair Perchlorate Filter is designed to reduce perchlorate levels effectively by targeting this specific ion through specialized filtration technology. It ships ready to configure with household water systems, allowing homeowners to address perchlorate presence if testing shows measurable concentrations. This filter helps mitigate perchlorate without relying on chemical additives or complex processes.

Pathways for Perchlorate to Reach Groundwater and Distribution in Kent County

Perchlorate can enter groundwater through environmental sources such as rocket fuel residues, fertilizers, and certain industrial operations. In Kent County, agricultural practices and local industry contribute to occasional perchlorate presence in groundwater supplies. If perchlorate enters the water table, public water systems typically test and treat it before distribution. Private wells near contamination sources may have different perchlorate levels.

Summary

Dover’s public water record shows perchlorate below the reporting level in all tests, indicating a low likelihood of perchlorate in the municipal supply. However, individual households, especially those with private wells, should test their water to know their specific perchlorate status. If testing reveals perchlorate, the Pentair Perchlorate Filter offers a targeted treatment option to reduce it.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2003-12-22. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR1 monitoring (2001-2005) for DOVER WATER DEPARTMENT (DE0000571), DE: 28 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level