To manage risks form soil and groundwater pollution incidents, and to enhance drinking water protection, this project evaluate the necessity for 14 volatile organic compounds (VOC) to be regulated or to be re-evaluated in ROC drinking water regulations in groundwater served as drinking water sources. Studied volatile organic compounds included Benzene, 1,2-Dichlorobenzene, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,2-Dichloropropane, ethyl benzene, Methyl-butyl ether (MTBE), Tetrachloroethene, Toluene, Trichloroethylene, Cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Styrene, Vinyl chloride and total Xylenes.
For VOC, this study summarized drinking water protection measures and maximum contaminant levels of WHO, EU, USA, UK, Japan, Australia, and Canada. In addition, historical data for domestic VOC investigation in contaminant sites were also reviewed. To establish background information for current domestic VOC distribution, this study measured 14 VOC’s concentrations of 71 samples from 9 wells within or neighboring contaminant sites, 5 major drinking water treatment facilities and 10 on-site drinking water treatment facilities.
VOCs were found existed in ground water samples from certain wells, for non-drinking water supply, within or neighboring contaminant sites. In 45 samples from 5 major drinking water treatment facilities and 10 on-site drinking water treatment facilities, very low concentrations of VOC’s were detected in just three samples, in addition, the above detected concentrations were barely above detection limit and much lower than USEPA or other existed guideline values. Overall, the detected values of 60 samples were below detection limits for studied VOC’s.
In combination with risk analysis conducted in this study, we recommended to regulate 6 VOC’s, including tetrachloroethylene, ethyl benzene, toluene, trans and cis-1,2-dichloro ethylene, according to guideline values of WHO, USEPA, Australia and Japan. This study also suggested regulation for eight other VOC’s in next phase for near future.
