Autotrol Chromium-6 Filter

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What did the UCMR3 survey aim to discover about chromium-6, and what does that mean for a single household?

The EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) survey collected water quality data from public water systems nationwide, including Enterprise Waterworks serving Coffee County, Alabama. This survey measured substances like chromium-6, also known as hexavalent chromium or chromium(VI), to better understand their occurrence. However, these results represent system-wide water quality, not individual household water tests. So, while the survey detected chromium-6 in some samples, it cannot specify the concentration in your home’s water supply without specific local testing.

What is the difference between geogenic chromium-6 in groundwater and chromium from industrial sources?

Chromium-6 found in groundwater can originate from natural mineral deposits, especially in arid or alkaline aquifers, or from industrial activities like metal plating. In Coffee County, the Enterprise Waterworks system uses groundwater as its source, and the chromium-6 detected likely reflects natural geogenic presence rather than industrial contamination. Understanding this distinction helps frame what kind of chromium-6 might be present in your water.

How do factors like sample depth or water source influence chromium-6 levels a household might expect?

The depth from which water is drawn influences the chromium-6 concentration since contaminants can vary at different underground layers. The Enterprise Waterworks system samples from groundwater sources, and reported chromium-6 detections ranged from non-detectable to 0.033 micrograms per liter (µg/L or ppb). The variation means your well or tap might have different levels depending on its specific source depth and local geology. Only targeted testing of your water can establish your exact chromium-6 concentration.

How do plumbing materials and the age of household pipes affect chromium levels separately from the source water?

Hexavalent chromium levels in water relate primarily to the source but can be influenced by household plumbing. Older pipes or certain metal fixtures may contribute other forms of chromium or affect water chemistry, though they do not generate chromium-6. For accurate chromium-6 assessment, testing source water and household taps separately is recommended.

Why can’t total chromium measurements substitute for chromium-6 awareness?

Total chromium measurements include both trivalent chromium (chromium(III)) and hexavalent chromium (chromium(VI)). These two have different chemical properties and health considerations. In Enterprise’s water record, total chromium was detected up to 0.67 µg/L, while chromium-6 reached 0.033 µg/L. Because total chromium does not distinguish between these forms, it cannot substitute for specific information on chromium-6 presence.

What do terms like 'detected', 'median', and 'range' mean in the chromium-6 sampling results?

In the Enterprise Waterworks water quality data, 'detected' means chromium-6 was measured at or above the reporting level of 0.03 µg/L, not that it indicates a violation or unsafe condition. The 'median' refers to the middle concentration of detected values, which was 0.033 µg/L for chromium-6. The 'range' shows the spread between non-detected samples and the highest measured result within the 50 samples taken. These terms help describe what was found in the water system but do not establish safety or risk for individual homes.

To precisely assess chromium-6 levels in your household water, specific testing of your own supply is essential. Addressing chromium-6 concerns can involve water treatment solutions, such as filtration technologies designed to target hexavalent chromium. One documented option is the Autotrol Chromium-6 Filter, which ships ready to configure for residential use.

This page reflects publicly available data about the Enterprise Waterworks system serving Coffee County’s population of about 48,000 via 16,000 connections. For more detail, visit the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System and UCMR monitoring records.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-03-10. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Enterprise Waterworks (AL0000296), AL: 100 results across 2 listed contaminants, 2 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L