Overview of Chromium-6 in El Paso County Water Sources
Government monitoring conducted between 2013 and 2015 by the EPA under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) found chromium-6 present in the public water system serving Widefield WSD, a community in El Paso County, Colorado. This system relies on surface water sources to provide water for about 27,640 people through 10,631 service connections. The testing recorded chromium-6 detections in 36 out of 49 samples, with measured levels ranging up to 0.62 micrograms per liter (µg/L). It is important to note that the federal Safe Drinking Water Act currently does not set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) specifically for chromium-6, though there is an MCL for total chromium at 100 µg/L. None of the chromium-6 results exceed any established federal health-based limits.
How Chromium-6 Enters the Water System in This Region
Chromium-6 can enter water supplies through multiple pathways, which are influenced by regional environmental and industrial factors. In El Paso County, surface water sources may acquire chromium-6 naturally from mineral deposits or through human activities such as manufacturing, industrial waste discharge, and urban runoff. The presence of chromium-6 in the public supply reflects its occurrence in these surface water inputs before treatment and distribution.
Difference Between Public System Records and Private Well Testing
The EPA’s public water system monitoring offers a broad perspective on water quality at the community level but does not represent conditions within any individual household’s plumbing or private well. Public system data represent samples taken at distribution points and treatment plants rather than at taps inside homes. For private wells or specific residences, only a certified laboratory test of that water will reveal the exact chromium-6 concentrations present. Homeowners should obtain such testing to understand their individual water quality.
Recognizing Household Water Issues Related to Chromium-6
Chromium-6 is a chemical constituent that typically does not cause taste, smell, or visible changes in water. Consequently, common household water symptoms such as discoloration, unusual odors, or scaling are not reliable indicators of chromium-6 levels. If water treatment equipment is no longer meeting performance expectations or residents have concerns about chromium-6, testing is necessary to confirm its presence and concentration because symptoms alone do not identify this constituent.
Understanding Certified Laboratory Tests and Result Terminology
Laboratory results report chromium-6 levels in micrograms per liter (µg/L) or parts per billion (ppb). A result marked as “detected” means the measurement instrument found chromium-6 above the reporting threshold; however, detection is not synonymous with a violation or unsafe water. The median value in the regional sampling record represents the middle number in the range of detected results and provides a central tendency, while the range shows the lowest and highest measured levels within the samples collected. This data helps describe the variation but does not define individual household conditions.
Summary and Reference to Government Monitoring
The monitoring data cited here pertain to the Widefield WSD public water system in El Paso County and do not apply directly to any individual home’s water unless that home is connected to this system. For precise knowledge of household water quality, testing through an accredited laboratory is essential. For residents seeking treatment options capable of addressing chromium-6, the Pentek Chromium-6 Filter system ships ready to configure and is designed to reduce chromium-6 concentrations effectively. For more detailed public data, consult the EPA’s SDWIS database at epa.gov.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-08-11. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Widefield WSD (CO0121900), CO: 98 results across 2 listed contaminants, 58 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L
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