Water reaching homes in Dodge City, Ford County, comes from groundwater sources managed by the City of Dodge City's public water system. This system serves over 27,000 people through nearly 10,000 connections. Government monitoring under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) provides data on various constituents, including 1,2,3-trichloropropane, or 1,2,3-TCP, a chlorinated solvent historically used in soil fumigation.
How does California’s 5 ng/L State Limit for 1,2,3-TCP compare to the Lack of a Federal MCL?
The EPA has not established a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for 1,2,3-trichloropropane at the federal level. As a result, the City of Dodge City’s public water system record shows no federal MCL exceedances for TCP. Between 2013 and 2015, eight samples were analyzed for 1,2,3-TCP with no detections above the reporting level of 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L), equivalent to 0.03 parts per billion (ppb). By contrast, California has set a stringent state limit of 0.005 µg/L (5 ng/L), significantly lower than the federal reporting level. This indicates heightened caution by California regulators but does not imply a violation or unsafe condition in Dodge City’s water. Without a federal MCL, the lack of detected 1,2,3-TCP above the reporting threshold in this public water system suggests that TCP concentrations, if present, are very low.
How Did a Soil Fumigant Impurity from the 1950s–1980s Reach Deep Groundwater Decades Later?
1,2,3-trichloropropane was an impurity in soil fumigants applied extensively in agriculture during the mid-20th century. This chlorinated solvent's chemical stability allows it to persist and slowly migrate through soil layers into deep groundwater aquifers over decades. While Dodge City’s water source is groundwater, the historic use of fumigants in the region can contribute trace TCP residues detected in some groundwater. The low detected levels in the public water system reflect this slow legacy transport rather than recent contamination.
What Household or Facility Symptoms Might Indicate the Presence of 1,2,3-TCP?
TCP is a chlorinated solvent and does not cause common water quality symptoms such as discoloration or strong odors at low levels typical in Dodge City’s water. Its presence is often undetectable by taste or smell. Therefore, typical household issues like staining, cloudiness, or unusual tastes are unlikely to signal TCP contamination specifically. To verify TCP presence, laboratory testing of a home's own tap water is necessary since public water system data represent broad system conditions.
Does Plumbing Material or Age Affect 1,2,3-TCP Levels in Household Water?
1,2,3-TCP originates in source water and is not produced or altered by plumbing materials. The age or type of household plumbing—whether plastic, copper, or galvanized—does not influence the concentration of TCP in water. However, plumbing can affect other water quality factors unrelated to TCP. The public water system’s groundwater source ensures that any TCP measured was present before water reaches household pipes.
How Many Samples Support the Data, and What Does a Small Sample Size Mean?
The City of Dodge City’s public water system record includes eight samples tested between 2013 and 2015 under UCMR3 monitoring. Although this is a limited number, the consistent non-detection above the reporting level of 0.03 µg/L provides initial reassurance about low TCP presence in the system. Small sample sizes mean individual household water could differ, reinforcing the importance of private well or tap testing to assess specific conditions.
What Sets 1,2,3-TCP Apart From Other Commonly Confused Water Issues?
Consumers often worry about various chlorinated solvents and disinfection byproducts, but 1,2,3-trichloropropane is distinct due to its agricultural fumigant origins and chemical persistence. Unlike metals or microbial contaminants, TCP has no secondary aesthetic standard affecting taste or color, and its detection does not correlate with plumbing corrosion or bacterial presence. Awareness of this difference helps households target testing and treatment more effectively.
In summary, Dodge City’s public water system records show no detected 1,2,3-TCP above the 0.03 µg/L reporting level in multiple samples, with no federal MCL set. Homeowners seeking clarity should consider individual water testing to know their own TCP levels. For households evaluating treatment options to address possible chlorinated solvents like TCP, the Autotrol 1,2,3-TCP Filter ships ready to configure and is documented to address this specific chlorinated solvent effectively.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-09-08. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for City of Dodge City (KS2005710), KS: 8 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level
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