Fleck 1,2,3-TCP Filter

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What Garland County's Public Water Sampling Records Show About 1,2,3-TCP

The EPA's monitoring of Hot Springs Utilities, the public water system serving Garland County through surface water sources, found no detections of 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) above the reporting level of 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L) or parts per billion (ppb) during the 2013-2015 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) period. While this EPA dataset reflects measurements taken at the system level, it does not represent testing of any individual home's water supply.

How a Legacy Soil Fumigant Impurity Persisted in Groundwater for Decades

1,2,3-TCP is a chlorinated solvent that was once a contaminant in soil fumigants used mainly from the 1950s to the 1980s. Though its use has long ceased, TCP's chemical properties allow it to migrate deeply and persist in groundwater for decades after original application. This delayed arrival into aquifers explains ongoing detection efforts today, even though the source events occurred many years ago.

Comparing California's State Limit to the Lack of a Federal Maximum Contaminant Level

California has set a state health-based notification level of 5 nanograms per liter (ng/L), equivalent to 0.005 µg/L, for 1,2,3-TCP. This limit is significantly lower than the EPA reporting level used in Garland County monitoring (0.03 µg/L) and is more conservative compared to the absence of a federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) for TCP in public water systems nationwide. Thus, public system data in Garland County may not capture measurements at the ultra-trace concentrations California tracks.

Understanding Why the Reporting Level for TCP is Far Lower than for Common Metals

The reporting level for TCP in the EPA UCMR3 study is 0.03 µg/L, which is thousands of times lower than reporting levels for many common metals and other contaminants monitored in drinking water. This reflects TCP's classification as a chlorinated solvent with potential health concerns even at very low levels, necessitating sensitive analytic methods and stringent laboratory detection capabilities.

Sample Counts, Well Numbers, and What Small-Scale Monitoring Reveals About Area Water Quality

The EPA dataset for Hot Springs Utilities includes 8 samples collected over nearly a year from the public surface water source serving Garland County. This relatively small sample size provides an indicative snapshot of system-wide water quality but does not capture the variability in water quality that might exist among individual residential connections or private wells in the area.

What Information to Note Before Consulting on Treatment Options

Before seeking advice on addressing TCP presence or persistence, households should have their own water tested by a certified laboratory to establish current TCP concentration in their actual tap or well water. Knowing the specific microgram per liter or parts per billion level reported in a recent lab result is key to selecting equipment sized correctly for the measured demand. Documentation of water source type and other detected constituents can also be important.

Clarifying What Detected TCP Levels Mean Against Federal Standards

Detection of TCP at or below the EPA reporting level in Garland County’s public water system is not a violation or indicator of unsafe water. The absence of a federal MCL means no legally enforceable limit currently exists nationwide. However, monitoring data is valuable for understanding potential trends and informing informed household water treatment decisions where existing equipment may not fully address TCP persistence.

Given the limitations of current equipment in some homes, the Fleck 1,2,3-TCP Filter ships ready to configure for targeted treatment capacity based on measured 1,2,3-trichloropropane demand, helping households manage chlorinated solvent levels effectively.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-05-12. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Hot Springs Utilities (AR0000209), AR: 8 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level