Government sampling from the Deming Municipal Water System in Luna County documents detectable chromium-6 in all samples taken during the EPA's UCMR3 survey from 2013 to 2015, with a highest measured concentration of 4.2 micrograms per liter (µg/L) and a median of 2.7 µg/L. While no federal maximum contaminant level exists specifically for hexavalent chromium, total chromium levels remain well below the MCL of 100 µg/L, and there are no health-based violations reported for the system.
Myth 1: Ion Exchange and Reverse Osmosis Remove Chromium(VI) the Same Way
Ion exchange and reverse osmosis address chromium-6 differently at the molecular level. Ion exchange technologies target dissolved hexavalent chromium species by exchanging them with benign ions on a resin, which can be effective for chromium(VI) at various concentrations. Reverse osmosis physically filters water through a semi-permeable membrane, which blocks chromium particles along with many other dissolved solids. Both methods reduce levels effectively, but ion exchange can be more selective and may operate with lower water waste compared to reverse osmosis’s filtration process.
Myth 2: A Nation-wide UCMR3 Sample Predicts Individual Household Chromium-6
The UCMR3 was designed to obtain a broad snapshot of unregulated contaminants in public water systems across the U.S., including Deming’s system, and is not intended to characterize any one home’s water quality. The 48 samples taken represent system-wide data, not variations in plumbing or well conditions that may exist in individual households. To understand chromium-6 levels at your property, a certified laboratory test of your household water is necessary.
Myth 3: Certain Home Symptoms Always Indicate Chromium(VI) Presence
Chromium-6 itself does not cause taste, odor, or visible changes in water that homeowners typically notice. Staining, metallic tastes, or discoloration arise from other dissolved minerals or corrosion byproducts unrelated to chromium-6. Therefore, the absence of aesthetic symptoms does not imply chromium(VI) absence, nor do common household symptoms reliably confirm its presence. Only laboratory testing can provide clarity.
Myth 4: Median and Highest Chromium-6 Levels Define Every Household’s Risk
The recorded median of 2.7 µg/L and highest detection of 4.2 µg/L chromium-6 in Deming’s system establish a range from the EPA’s sampling but do not predict individual home concentrations. Median represents the middle of detected values, meaning half the samples were above and half below 2.7 µg/L. The highest detected value is not a limit or violation but a single measure in the system’s sampled distribution. Individual household levels may be higher or lower depending on local plumbing influences and source water variations.
Myth 5: Laboratory Tests for Chromium(VI) Measure the Same as Public System Surveys
A certified laboratory test for hexavalent chromium in household water quantifies Cr(VI) concentration at your tap, reported in micrograms per liter or parts per billion. Unlike system-wide public surveys that report detections and medians, a lab test provides a precise, current measurement specific to your water source. Due to possible fluctuations over time and location, such testing is essential to determine the need for targeted treatment.
In conclusion, the Deming Municipal Water System data shows detectable chromium-6 in groundwater supply samples but no health-based violations. This system-level information should not lead to assumptions about your household’s water quality or to conclusions that treatment is definitely necessary without testing. For those considering treatment options, direct purchase of a Pentek Chromium-6 Filter ships ready to configure and offers a method to address hexavalent chromium selectively after confirming your water’s condition through certified testing.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-05-18. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Deming Municipal Water System (NM3528616), NM: 96 results across 2 listed contaminants, 96 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L
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