How 1,2,3-TCP Enters Water in Washoe County

Potential Sources of 1,2,3-TCP in Surface Water

In the Washoe County area served by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, water comes primarily from surface water sources. 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP) can enter these waters through historical industrial use, agricultural runoff, or chemical spills affecting the watershed. These inputs may contribute trace amounts of 1,2,3-TCP detected during federal surveys, though not specific to individual homes.

Interpreting Certified Laboratory Test Results for 1,2,3-TCP

Understanding Detection and Reporting Levels

Testing conducted as part of the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for the Truckee Meadows Water Authority showed 41 samples analyzed with no detections above the 0.03 micrograms per liter reporting level. This means certified labs found 1,2,3-TCP at or below this threshold, which reflects instrument sensitivity rather than a violation or unsafe condition.

Aesthetic Secondary Standards Versus Health-Based Limits for 1,2,3-TCP

Different Purposes of Regulatory Measures

The EPA has established health-based standards for certain contaminants, but 1,2,3-TCP currently has no federal Maximum Contaminant Level. Secondary standards address taste, staining, or corrosion effects that affect water aesthetics but are not health safety limits. This distinction explains why detections of 1,2,3-TCP, if present at low levels, do not mean the water is unsafe.

Seasonal and Multi-Year Variation in 1,2,3-TCP Levels

Survey Period and Consistency of Results

The Truckee Meadows Water Authority monitoring occurred between May 2013 and June 2014 as part of a federal survey. Results showed no detections of 1,2,3-TCP above the reporting level during this time, indicating stability in system water quality with respect to this compound across seasons and the monitoring period.

Changes in Tap Water Following Use of the C-Series 1,2,3-TCP Filter

Effectiveness of the C-Series System in Removing 1,2,3-TCP

The C-Series 1,2,3-TCP Filter ships ready to configure for household use and is specifically designed to reduce 1,2,3-TCP in water. Once in use, it can lower trace amounts detected from regional sources, improving water quality as experienced directly at the tap.

What Detection Levels Mean Against Federal Standards

Clarifying Regulatory Status and Health Implications

Because 1,2,3-TCP has no established federal MCL, detections recorded in monitoring do not represent exceedances or violations. The absence of detections above the reporting level further supports that water provided by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority meets present health-based requirements with respect to 1,2,3-TCP.

The data reviewed here concern public water system records for Truckee Meadows Water Authority serving Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County, as published by the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. To determine individual household water composition for 1,2,3-TCP, certified laboratory testing of your own water supply would be necessary.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-06-09. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Truckee Meadows Water Authority (NV0000190), NV: 41 results across 1 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level