Choosing how to address the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your household water is a pressing decision when existing treatment equipment no longer functions effectively. This week, focusing on reliable data can guide your next steps to ensure water quality for your family.
Why volatility matters: showering, dishwashing and inhalation routes versus drinking
VOCs, also known as volatile organics or solvent compounds, are chemicals that readily evaporate from water into air. This behavior means exposure can occur not only by drinking but also through breathing vapors during activities like showering and dishwashing. Understanding inhalation alongside ingestion is important when considering household water safety.
How seasonal water-table changes move a solvent plume relative to a well screen
The groundwater supplying the Hwy. 63 Water Association in Cleveland County fluctuates seasonally. These changes shift the position of any solvent compound plumes relative to well screens, affecting concentrations in drawn water. This dynamic means sampling at different times may show varying VOC levels, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring.
A worked example: reading the record's median and range as a homeowner would
Between February and August 2013, the EPA’s third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) recorded no detections of six monitored VOCs—including 1,1-dichloroethane, chloromethane, and bromomethane—above their respective reporting levels in the Hwy. 63 Water Association system. These results reflect measurements in a public water system serving over 7,000 residents, not individual household water tests. The absence of detected levels at or above reporting thresholds indicates low to undetectable VOC presence during this period but does not rule out the need for specific well or tap water testing.
How a gasoline release differs from a dry-cleaning release in what it leaves in groundwater
Solvent compounds in groundwater arise from different sources, each influencing water quality distinctively. Gasoline releases tend to introduce complex hydrocarbons including volatile organics, while dry-cleaning solvent releases often involve chlorinated VOCs. These differences affect which VOCs may be present and their environmental behavior, such as persistence and volatility.
Why a granular activated carbon bed is sized for contact time rather than flow alone
Effective removal of VOCs from water depends on sufficient contact time between water and treatment media like a granular activated carbon bed. Simply matching flow rates is inadequate because VOC molecules require extended interaction with the carbon to adhere and be removed. This principle guides the design of treatment systems ensuring proper filtration performance.
Given these insights, the recommended step is to conduct a comprehensive VOC test on your household water supply. Such a test will identify current levels of volatile organics and solvent compounds specific to your tap, informing whether deploying a documented technology like the C-Series VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter—ships ready to configure—would benefit your household water quality.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2013-08-19. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Hwy. 63 Water Association (AR0000107), AR: 60 results across 6 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level