Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter

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If you have received a laboratory test report for your home's water that lists 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP), it is important to understand what that means and how to decide which class of treatment might be necessary. 1,2,3-TCP is a chlorinated solvent that was historically used as a soil fumigant impurity and is known for its persistence in groundwater.

If you consider the agricultural land-use history of Tazewell County

Tazewell County, including Pekin, has a groundwater source for its public water system. Agricultural use in the region has influenced the presence of 1,2,3-TCP detections nationwide, though government monitoring for the Illinois American Water Co. system serving Pekin found no detections of 1,2,3-TCP above the reporting level of 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L) or parts per billion (ppb) during federal Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) sampling from 2013 to 2015. This suggests that in the area’s public water supply, 1,2,3-TCP is below measurable levels during that period. However, agricultural land use in other regions has been known to affect groundwater quality elsewhere, so local history is relevant when evaluating your own water source.

If you consider the chemical properties of 1,2,3-trichloropropane and treatment implications

1,2,3-TCP resists air stripping because it does not easily volatilize into air. This characteristic means that common aeration treatments, which work well for some volatile organic compounds, are ineffective against TCP. Therefore, treatment options that rely on physical adsorption or filtration methods are generally recommended for addressing this constituent.

If your concerns extend beyond household use to commercial or industrial water treatment

Commercial and industrial operators must consider additional factors such as water volume, treatment capacity, regulatory compliance, and process water quality standards. These concerns may influence the choice of filtration technology and system scale. For household users, the focus is primarily on point-of-entry and point-of-use solutions tailored for smaller volumes. Knowing the specific concentration in your water through testing helps select the appropriate treatment class.

If you weigh aesthetic secondary standards against health-based considerations for 1,2,3-TCP

The Environmental Protection Agency has established secondary standards for some water constituents that affect taste, staining, or corrosion but are not health-based limits. For 1,2,3-trichloropropane, no federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) currently exists, and the Pekin water system has no recorded health-based violations related to this compound. Detected concentrations below reporting levels serve as measurement data but not as an indication of aesthetic problems or safety concerns.

If you explore granular activated carbon (GAC) as a treatment choice

Granular activated carbon contact time is critical for effective reduction of 1,2,3-TCP. The depth of the carbon bed influences the contact time: deeper beds allow water to interact longer with the media, increasing the likelihood of adsorption. This is particularly important since TCP is less readily removed than compounds that affect taste or odor. When considering treatment options, selecting a system with sufficient carbon bed depth helps ensure better performance against chlorinated solvents like TCP.

For households in Pekin evaluating 1,2,3-TCP treatment needs, water testing for this chlorinated solvent is essential to determine your specific concentration and guide treatment choices. The documented Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter technology, which ships ready to configure, utilizes granular activated carbon optimized for this purpose.

In summary, this page has discussed the agricultural context influencing 1,2,3-TCP presence, the compound’s resistance to air stripping, distinctions for commercial versus household considerations, differences between aesthetic and health standards, and the critical role of GAC contact time. These factors collectively support an informed decision about pursuing specialized treatment like the Pentair 1,2,3-TCP Filter for your household water in Tazewell County.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-01-13. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for IL American Water Co. - Pekin (IL1795040), IL: 14 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level