Chromium-6 in Barnstable County Water: What Yarmouth Data Reveals About Your Household Supply

Common Misinterpretation: Chromium-6 Is Not the Same as Total Chromium

Chromium-6 and Total Chromium Are Related but Distinct

Chromium in water includes several forms, notably chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) and chromium-3. Government data from the Yarmouth Water Department in Barnstable County shows separate monitoring results for chromium-6 and total chromium as distinct measurements.

Detection Does Not Imply Exceeding Safety Standards

Though chromium-6 is detected in many samples, the EPA does not set a federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) specifically for chromium-6. Total chromium has an MCL of 100 micrograms per liter (µg/L), and all Yarmouth measurements are well within that limit.

Sources of Chromium-6 in Groundwater and Distribution Systems

Chromium-6 Enters Water Mainly Through Natural and Industrial Processes

In Yarmouth, groundwater supplies the public water system. Chromium-6 may enter through natural geologic formations or legacy industrial activities affecting groundwater quality.

Water Treatment and Distribution Affect Chromium Speciation

Water chemistry during treatment and distribution can influence chromium's chemical state. Understanding this helps clarify which chromium forms appear at household taps.

Interpreting the Measured Chromium-6 Range in Yarmouth Water

Chromium-6 Concentrations Range from 0.03 to 0.59 µg/L

EPA UCMR3 monitoring found 46 detections out of 52 samples above the reporting level of 0.03 µg/L, with a highest value of 0.59 µg/L and a median detected value of 0.21 µg/L. These concentrations are measurements, not regulatory violations.

Total Chromium Measurements Are Consistently Below the MCL

Total chromium shows detections up to 0.6 µg/L, median 0.4 µg/L, far below the 100 µg/L federal MCL, affirming compliance with health-based standards.

What These Numbers Do Not Indicate

These area-level figures cannot specify the chromium-6 level in any individual home’s water; individual testing is needed for certainty.

Considerations for Larger or Seasonal Households in Yarmouth

Water Usage May Affect Treatment Needs

Larger households or properties used seasonally might experience varying water quality dynamics requiring tailored filtering solutions.

Water Stagnation and Seasonal Changes Influence Chromium Levels

Homes with intermittent water use may see changes in constituent concentrations over time, necessitating periodic retesting.

Sample Size and Water System Coverage Behind the Yarmouth Data

Data Based on 52 Samples from the Public Water System

The EPA UCMR3 sampling from 2013 to 2015 covers the Yarmouth Water Department system serving about 38,900 people via 16,360 connections, reflecting broad but not individual conditions.

Small Sample Size Means Limited Resolution

While providing useful area-wide trends, the sample count is limited, so local variations may exist.

Key Takeaways: What Yarmouth Area Data Does and Does Not Tell You

You should not assume your home's water matches the system's average measurements for chromium-6; personal water testing is necessary to know your exact conditions.

Chromium-6 detections in the Yarmouth system are measured values without federal limits, and total chromium remains well below health-based thresholds.

After experiencing equipment failure, treating household water with the Fleck Chromium-6 Filter, which ships ready to configure, offers a documented means to reduce chromium-6 from water supply. This filter addresses chromium-6 specifically, supplementing your overall water quality management in Barnstable County.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-09-17. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Yarmouth Water Department (MA4351000), MA: 104 results across 2 listed contaminants, 75 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L