Government water-quality monitoring of the Wasilla Water System serving Matanuska-Susitna Borough recorded some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the public groundwater supply from 2013 to 2015. This report summarizes those findings and explains considerations for households deciding what level of VOC treatment they may need.
Why Volatility Matters: How VOCs Reach You Beyond Drinking
VOCs Can Enter Indoor Air During Showering and Dishwashing
Volatile organic compounds can evaporate from your tap water when hot water flows over your skin or dishes, releasing these solvents into indoor air. Inhalation exposure can be significant alongside drinking ingestion.
Inhalation May Exceed Oral Exposure for Some VOCs
Because volatile organics evaporate readily, breathing them during water use activities can contribute to overall exposure, which is an important consideration in treatment choices.
Which Volatile Organic Compounds Appear in This Water System Record
HCFC-22 Detected Consistently but Below Any Federal Safety Limit
The Wasilla Water System’s monitoring detected HCFC-22 in 2 of 6 samples at concentrations near 0.61 micrograms per liter (µg/L), or parts per billion (ppb), while no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) exists for this VOC under UCMR3.
No Detection of 1,1-Dichloroethane, Chloromethane, Bromomethane, Halon 1011, or 1,3-Butadiene
Other monitored VOCs showed no measured concentrations above reporting levels, indicating their absence in this monitoring period but not necessarily in individual taps.
Comparing This Area’s Record to Neighboring Regions Without Overreading
Public System Data Represents Trends, Not Individual Home Tests
The Wasilla system’s groundwater supply is sampled repeatedly to help understand areawide conditions. Nearby boroughs may show different VOC profiles due to variable sources and water treatment.
Lower or Non-Detected VOCs in Adjacent Areas Don’t Guarantee Local Home Water Absence
Variations in well depth, local contamination sources, or plumbing materials mean your water could differ from the public system averages in substantive ways.
Understanding ‘Detected,’ ‘Median,’ and ‘Range’ in This Sampling Record
‘Detected’ Means Instrument Measured a VOC Above Its Reporting Level
This is not a violation or unsafe finding, just a confirmed presence at trace levels. For example, HCFC-22 was detected above 0.08 µg/L in some samples.
Median Indicates the Middle Value Among Positive Detections
HCFC-22’s median detected level was about 0.61 µg/L, meaning half of detections were at or above this concentration.
Range Shows the Spread from Non-Detected to Highest Detected Value
For HCFC-22, detections ranged up to 0.61 µg/L, while other VOCs showed no detection above reporting levels.
How Public Water System Records Differ from Private Well Testing
System Records Reflect Averages Over Time and Multiple Samples
This data captures trends in the public system’s groundwater supply rather than an individual household’s water, which requires separate analysis.
Homeowners Should Test Their Own Well or Tap Water to Confirm Local Conditions
Only a certified laboratory test on your own water supply can establish your exact VOC concentrations and help tailor treatment decisions.
Potential Long-Term Effects of Ignoring VOCs in Water
Prolonged Exposure to VOCs Might Affect Indoor Air Quality and Taste
While this public system has no health-based violations recorded for VOCs, untreated volatile organics in private water could cause mild taste or odor concerns or contribute to indoor air solvent levels.
Appropriate Treatment Can Reduce VOC Levels and Associated Exposure
Addressing VOCs before they affect water and air quality helps maintain household comfort and peace of mind.
In summary, this page reviewed government records showing some VOC detections, mainly HCFC-22, in the Wasilla Water System serving Matanuska-Susitna Borough, with no health-based violations noted. Households deciding on VOC treatment should test their own water to understand local conditions. The Autotrol VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter is a documented technology that ships ready to configure and can reduce VOC levels effectively.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2013-12-16. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Wasilla Water System (AK2224646), AK: 36 results across 6 listed contaminants, 2 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for these UCMR-listed VOCs
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