The Sunrise Water Authority, serving Clackamas County, Oregon, provides water to over 16,700 residential connections and reports chromium-6 detection in most samples, with no recorded health-based violations by the EPA.
Oxidation State Changes from Source to Tap
Chromium can exist in different oxidation states in water, with chromium(VI), also known as hexavalent chromium or chromium-6, being more soluble and mobile. Surface water supplied by Sunrise Water Authority may carry chromium-6 in varying amounts, but chemical reactions in distribution pipes or household plumbing can alter its oxidation state to chromium(III), the trivalent form, which behaves differently in terms of toxicity and treatment.
Geogenic vs Industrial Sources of Hexavalent Chromium
Hexavalent chromium in water can arise from naturally occurring geochemical processes, especially in arid or alkaline environments where chromium-bearing minerals weather, as well as from historic or active industrial sources such as metal plating. In Clackamas County, surface water sources are less likely to reflect contamination from industrial chromium compared to groundwater sources in other regions. This distinction helps understand likely origins but does not determine individual household levels.
Maintenance Rhythm of the Pentek Chromium-6 Filter
The Pentek Chromium-6 Filter ships ready to configure for point-of-use treatment of chromium-6. Routine maintenance consists primarily of replacing the filter cartridge at intervals recommended by the product specifications or when flow rate declines. There are no electronic components, and the system does not require professional service visits. Regular cartridge changes ensure continued performance against chromium(VI).
Aesthetic Secondary Standards Versus Health-Based Limits
The EPA’s National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations suggest aesthetic thresholds for parameters like total chromium and total dissolved solids that address taste, staining, and corrosion but are not health-based limits. For hexavalent chromium, no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) exists, and thus no regulatory health limit applies. The detected chromium-6 concentrations in Sunrise Water Authority’s system fall well below the total chromium MCL of 100 parts per billion (µg/L) and no violations have been recorded.
Fixtures, Appliances, and Processes Affected by Chromium-6
Chromium-6 primarily impacts point-of-use water where it may influence taste or staining, especially in appliances sensitive to mineral content like ice makers or coffee machines. Household fixtures with glass or ceramic surfaces may show subtle effects from prolonged exposure to chromium compounds. The Pentek Chromium-6 Filter targets these concerns by treating water at the tap, making it a focused solution for affected points.
In summary, the EPA’s UCMR3 data for Sunrise Water Authority in Clackamas County shows chromium-6 detected in most samples between October 2013 and July 2014, with maximum reported measurements at 1.7 micrograms per liter (parts per billion) and no safety violations. These findings reflect the overall system and do not define individual household water quality, which requires specific testing. The government source for this data is the EPA SDWIS public water system record.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-07-28. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Sunrise Water Authority (OR4100635), OR: 60 results across 2 listed contaminants, 45 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L
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