If you live in Bear or Hockessin, you might notice nothing unusual from your tap yet remain concerned about chromium-6 in your water. Chromium-6 is a trace metal detected in many water supplies, including the Artesian Water Company system serving over 230,000 people in this region. Understanding what area-wide water records say — and what they do not say — about chromium-6 can help you decide what steps, if any, to take for your household.
What Should You Write Down Before Seeking Advice on Chromium-6 Treatment?
Before considering any treatment, gather basic facts that specifically describe your water situation. This includes the water system name (Artesian Water Company, DE0000552), your location within Bear or Hockessin, and most importantly, the results of any certified water test you’ve had conducted on your own tap water. Area data alone cannot reveal your home's exact chromium-6 levels.
Reading the Record’s Median and Range for Chromium-6: A Homeowner’s Guide
Between 2013 and 2015, federal monitoring reported chromium-6 detections in 45 out of 48 samples from Artesian's system. The highest recorded value was 4.7 micrograms per liter (µg/L), while the median detected was 0.34 µg/L. These numbers show chromium-6 exists in the water supply at low levels across the system, but do not indicate a violation since there is no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) for chromium-6. Total chromium levels were also measured, always well below the 100 µg/L total chromium MCL.
Which Household Fixtures and Appliances Reflect Chromium-6 Presence First?
Chromium-6 presence is invisible and tasteless; it does not immediately affect water’s appearance or odor. However, appliances or fixtures exposed to water with chromium-6 may show signs of metal interaction over time. Devices such as water heaters, dishwashers, and faucets with aerators can accumulate particulate matter or discoloration due to minerals including chromium compounds. Monitoring these can provide indirect clues but not definitive chromium-6 levels.
How Does Chromium-6 Enter Water in Bear, Hockessin, and New Castle County?
In this region, chromium-6 is monitored in the Artesian Water Company’s surface water sources. Chromium-6 presence typically results from natural mineral deposits, industrial runoff, or environmental factors that introduce chromium compounds into surface waters. These source waters undergo treatment before reaching consumers, but trace amounts can still be detected in distributed water. The monitoring results reflect the overall system rather than any single household’s plumbing.
What Does a Certified Laboratory Report for Chromium-6 Show, and How Should You Read It?
A lab report for chromium-6 will list the measured concentration in micrograms per liter. Because there is no federal MCL for chromium-6, the report does not categorize the level as safe or unsafe. Instead, it provides a factual measurement you can compare to the median and range from the Artesian system’s federal monitoring. Understanding that detections are common but not violations helps to interpret the data calmly and effectively. Only a certified test of your own water can define your water’s chromium-6 level accurately.
What Additional Questions Do Commercial or Industrial Operators Consider That Households Do Not?
Commercial and industrial water users often assess chromium-6 with an eye on large-volume usage, equipment compatibility, and regulatory compliance. Their monitoring also accounts for multiple water sources and potential treatment needs on a broader scale. Households mainly focus on personal water quality and appliance impact, making their questions narrower but just as important for informed water use.
What You Should NOT Conclude From This Area Data
Bear and Hockessin residents should avoid assuming that chromium-6 levels found anywhere in the Artesian system directly reflect the quality of their own tap water. Detections are measurements, not legal limits or safety violations. Municipal water is subject to comprehensive treatment and testing that aims to provide safe drinking water. If you want to know your household’s chromium-6 concentration precisely, a certified laboratory test of your tap water is necessary. For managing chromium-6 presence, systems like the Fleck Chromium-6 Filter ship ready to configure and offer a documented option for reducing chromium-6 at the point of use.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-07-16. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Artesian Water Company (DE0000552), DE: 96 results across 2 listed contaminants, 74 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L
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