Myth: Total chromium levels tell you everything about chromium-6 in your water
Residents often assume that a total chromium number provides a full picture of chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) presence, but this is not the case. Chromium exists in multiple forms, including trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). Total chromium testing measures both forms combined, so it does not specify how much chromium-6 is in the water. For instance, Beckley Water Company's public water system record from 2013-2015 shows total chromium detection with highest values at 0.44 micrograms per liter (µg/L), while chromium-6 was measured separately up to 0.16 µg/L. These separate results highlight the need for specific tests to evaluate hexavalent chromium rather than relying on total chromium alone.
Myth: Chromium-6 concentration stays the same from source to tap
It is a common belief that hexavalent chromium levels remain unchanged as water travels from the surface supply through distribution pipes to household taps. However, chromium's oxidation state can alter due to water chemistry, treatment processes, and pipe materials. The Beckley Water Company’s surface water source undergoes treatment that may impact chromium speciation, and thus, the form and concentration of chromium reaching homes could differ from source water measurements. Therefore, household water testing is crucial to establish actual tap water chromium-6 levels.
Myth: Public water system data directly reflects individual household water quality
Many homeowners think that public water system monitoring conclusively defines their tap water quality. Yet, data like Beckley Water Company's EPA UCMR3 results represent aggregated results for the system serving approximately 47,386 people. These figures do not indicate chromium-6 levels in any single home’s water. Private well users or households with additional plumbing factors need separate testing to understand their unique water conditions.
Myth: Existing water treatment equipment is either sufficient or unnecessary without evaluating capacity
Homeowners might believe their current water treatment equipment can fully handle chromium-6 without considering daily water usage or treatment capacity. If equipment struggles to keep up, the volume and flow rate demand must be assessed. Effective chromium-6 management requires treatment designed to match household water consumption patterns to maintain performance in reducing chromium(VI) content at the tap.
Myth: Detected chromium-6 above reporting levels implies exceeding federal limits or unsafe water
Federal monitoring under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) reveals chromium-6 detections up to 0.16 µg/L in Beckley’s public water system. However, there is currently no federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) specifically for chromium-6. The existing MCL applies only to total chromium, set at 100 µg/L, well above these detections. Therefore, detections above reporting levels are measurements, not violations or safety breaches. These findings do not indicate unsafe drinking water but help inform treatment and monitoring decisions.
Conclusion: What Raleigh Residents Should Consider About Area Data on Chromium-6
The government’s records for Beckley’s public water system provide valuable insight into typical chromium-6 occurrence in the local supply but do not reveal individual household tap water conditions. To understand your specific water and whether current equipment meets your household’s needs for chromium(VI), consider testing your own water. For households seeking advanced management of chromium-6, equipment such as the C-Series Chromium-6 Filter ships ready to configure and is designed to address this specific constituent effectively when matched to water demand.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-12-09. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Beckley Water Company (WV3304104), WV: 28 results across 2 listed contaminants, 14 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L