Occurrence and distribution of volatile organic compounds in drinking water supplied by community water systems in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, 1993-98
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Abstract
Data on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water supplied by community water systems (CWSs) are available for 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States from 1993-98. The data are from 2,110 CWSs representing a 20 percent random selection of the total 10,749 active CWSs in the region. The data were collected for compliance monitoring under the Safe Drinking Water Act from both surface-and ground-water sources and largely represent samples of finished drinking water collected prior to distribution. Overall, 39 percent of the 2,110 randomly selected CWSs reported a detection of one or more VOCs at or above 1.0 μg/L (micrograms per liter).
Although differences in analytical coverage complicate comparisons, in the 1,543 CWSs with THM data at or above 1.0 μg/L, 42 percent reported an occurrence of one or more THMs. The common detection of THMs in finished drinking water probably is related to their formation through the chlorination of drinking-water supplies. Comparatively, solvents, the next most frequently detected VOC group, were reported in 9.8 percent of 2,097 CWSs with solvent data at or above 1.0 μg/L, and gasoline components were detected in 9.0 percent of 2,098 CWSs with data at or above 1.0 μg/L.
Individually, the THMs—chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane, and bromoform—were the most frequently detected VOCs ranging from 33 to 8 percent. The most frequently detected non-THM compound was methyl tert-butyl ether, which was identified in 8 percent of CWSs. Of the 2,110 randomly selected CWSs, 6 percent had at least one sample with one or more VOCs with a concentration above a Maximum Contaminant Level, Health Advisory, or Drinking-Water Advisory.
VOCs were more frequently detected in drinking water from systems that are supplied by surface-water sources, or both surface-and ground-water sources, than in systems that are supplied exclusively by ground water, and from systems serving very large and large populations (serving <3,300 people) compared to systems serving medium and small populations (serving <3,300 people).
Suggested Citation
Moran, M.J., Grady, S.J., and Zogorski, J.S., 2001, Occurrence and distribution of volatile organic compounds in drinking water supplied by community water systems in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, 1993–98; 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 089–01, 4 p.
ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Design Approach and Data Set
- Occurrence and Distribution
- Conclusions and Implications
- Acknowledgments
- References Cited
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Occurrence and distribution of volatile organic compounds in drinking water supplied by community water systems in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, 1993-98 |
| Series title | Fact Sheet |
| Series number | 089-01 |
| DOI | 10.3133/fs08901 |
| Edition | Online Version 1.0 |
| Year Published | 2001 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Dakota Water Science Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |