Pentek Chromium-6 Filter

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1. Trivalent versus hexavalent chromium: why a total-chromium result cannot answer the question

Total chromium measurements combine all forms of chromium, including trivalent chromium (Cr(III)), which is a naturally occurring, less mobile form, and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI) or chromium-6), which can have different environmental and treatment implications. While Fayetteville area public water system records report total chromium levels, these totals do not specify how much chromium-6 is present. Since chromium-6 behaves differently from chromium(III), relying only on total chromium data will not clarify your household’s potential chromium-6 exposure.

2. How oxidation state changes between the well, the distribution main and the tap

The oxidation state of chromium may shift as water moves from its groundwater source through treatment and the municipal distribution mains to your tap. Environmental factors such as pH, organic matter, and disinfection processes can cause chromium to change between hexavalent and trivalent forms. In Fayetteville’s Cliffdale West system, chromium-6 was detected in most monitoring samples from groundwater, but levels measured at some points can vary. Your tap water's chromium-6 content will depend on these transformations and your household plumbing.

3. How the constituent enters groundwater or the distribution system in this region

Chromium-6 in Fayetteville's water sources primarily originates from natural geogenic sources in groundwater. The local public water system Cliffdale West, which serves over 15,000 people from groundwater sources, had 82 detections of chromium-6 above 0.03 micrograms per liter across 99 tests from 2014. The highest detected chromium-6 concentration was 1.9 parts per billion (µg/L), and the median of detected values was 0.0745 µg/L. These concentrations reflect monitoring results and are not safety limits. No federal maximum contaminant level applies specifically to chromium-6, but total chromium is regulated with a standard of 100 µg/L, a level not approached here.

4. What the reader should write down before asking anyone for treatment advice

• Document your household water source and whether it is supplied by the Cliffdale West public water system or a private well.
• Record any recent water test results indicating chromium-6 or total chromium levels specific to your household’s tap water.
• Note when your current or previous water treatment equipment stopped functioning and what technology it used.
• Be aware if any changes occurred in your neighborhood’s water supply or if municipal reports indicate any updates on chromium concentrations.

5. The order in which to rule things out, from cheapest check to laboratory test

• First, confirm with your local water utility whether your home receives water from the Cliffdale West system or another source.
• Review consumer confidence reports or any municipal water quality information available for Fayetteville and Cumberland County for chromium presence and general water quality.
• Ensure your household plumbing fixtures and filters are functioning properly, as failure in equipment can allow chromium-6 and other constituents to pass untreated.
• If you rely on well water or wish to verify your tap’s chromium-6 concentration, commission a laboratory test specifically measuring hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) at your tap water, since system-level data cannot confirm your water.

In Fayetteville and the Cumberland County area, public water system records for Cliffdale West document chromium-6 detections from groundwater sources but do not indicate any health-based violations related to this constituent. To understand your residential water’s chromium-6 concentration after treatment equipment failure, testing your tap water is essential. The Pentek Chromium-6 Filter ships ready to configure for households managing hexavalent chromium and can address this concern effectively once you confirm your water’s condition. For more detailed information, refer to the EPA public water system records for system NC0326332, Cliffdale West.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-11-13. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Cliffdale West (NC0326332), NC: 198 results across 2 listed contaminants, 110 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L