Pentek Chromium-6 Filter

Buy Now

View full details

If You Notice Metallic or Slightly Bitter Taste at the Tap

Chromium-6, also called hexavalent chromium or chromium(VI), can sometimes influence the taste or perception of water quality at the faucet. It is one form of chromium found dissolved in water, distinct from trivalent chromium (chromium(III)), and both are included when measuring total chromium.

Testing results collected from the U.S. Navy Water System in GU (EPA system ID GU0000010) showed chromium-6 detected in all 29 samples between 2014 and 2015, with concentrations ranging from just above 0.03 micrograms per liter (µg/L) or parts per billion (ppb) to a highest measured value of 3.0 µg/L. The median detected level was 1.1 µg/L. For total chromium, 27 of 29 results were above 0.2 µg/L, with a maximum of 3.2 µg/L and a median of 1.4 µg/L. This system's water record shows no health-based EPA violations for chromium.

If You Are Wondering How Chromium-6 Changes Between Source and Faucet

Chromium can exist in multiple oxidation states. Hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), is typically more mobile in water than trivalent chromium. In groundwater and distribution pipes, its chemical form can shift due to factors like oxygen levels, pH, and organic content. Thus, chromium-6 concentrations at the source well may differ from those at your tap. The U.S. Navy Water System’s federal monitoring captured what is present at the water treatment or distribution point, not specific household plumbing.

If You Are Considering the Source of Hexavalent Chromium in GU Water

Hexavalent chromium appears in water either from natural geologic sources or from industrial activities such as metal plating. The aquifers in many arid and alkaline environments accumulate chromium in forms influenced by local mineralogy. The GU area's chromium detections could reflect such geogenic origins as well as any industrial inputs affecting the Navy water system.

If You Need to Know How Much Treatment Capacity Your Household Requires

Deciding on a treatment approach means matching the system’s chromium-6 throughput ability to your household’s daily water use. This includes drinking, cooking, and bathing demands. Measuring your average and peak water consumption helps ensure that a filtration method you select will maintain performance without excessive maintenance or flow restrictions.

If Your Water Report Only Lists Total Chromium Without Speciation

Total chromium measurements alone do not clarify how much chromium-6 is present versus trivalent chromium. Because chromium-6 is the form of concern for many consumers considering treatment options, a speciation test that distinguishes hexavalent chromium from chromium(III) is necessary for an informed decision on the best technical approach to reduce chromium(VI) exposure.

If You Want to Understand What Detection, Median, and Range Mean in GU’s Water Record

Detection means the instrument found chromium-6 at or above the reporting threshold of 0.03 µg/L in that sample. Median indicates the middle value among all detected samples, showing a central tendency but not extremes. Range indicates the spread between the lowest and highest measurements recorded for the system. None of these values indicate a violation or that the water is unsafe, but they give insight into typical levels experienced in the distribution system.

If You're Curious About How Chromium-6 Enters Water in This Region

Chromium(VI) can leach from natural mineral deposits into groundwater supplies or enter surface water from industrial-related discharges. In coastal or island areas like GU, interactions with seawater and soil conditions can influence chromium speciation and mobility, affecting what is detected in public water systems serving the region.

Considering these findings and your household's water use, the Pentek Chromium-6 Filter ships ready to configure and can be selected to meet the specific daily water demand you measure. This system is designed to address chromium(VI) concerns documented by government monitoring without implying your water is unsafe but providing an option to help manage chromium-6 at the tap.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-04-27. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for U.S. Navy Water System (GU0000010), GU: 58 results across 2 listed contaminants, 56 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L