Are VOCs present in samples from wells used as sources for drinking water supplies?
A large number of drinking-water supply wells sampled prior to treatment or blending had no detections of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One or more VOCs were detected in 14 percent of the 2,401 domestic well samples, and in 26 percent of the public well samples with concentrations equal to or greater than 0.2 microgram per liter (μg/L). Nearly one-half of 1,208 samples from a subset of the domestic wells had VOC detections using the low-level analytical method, for which an order-of-magnitude lower assessment level (0.02 μg/L) was applied. For more information, refer to USGS Circular 1292, Appendixes 8 and 10.
