Fleck Chromium-6 Filter

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Reading Your Water Test Report for Chromium-6

A laboratory test report for chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI)) in water typically lists detected values in micrograms per liter (µg/L or parts per billion, ppb). For example, federal monitoring data for the Dayton Valley Water System, serving approximately 16,000 people in Lyon County and surrounding areas, shows chromium-6 was detected in 31 samples with a highest level recorded at 0.95 µg/L and a median value of 0.22 µg/L. These are measurements, not health-based limits or indications of safety at individual taps.

Trivalent Versus Hexavalent Chromium: Why Total Chromium Data is Not Enough

Total chromium results combine chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) and chromium-3 (trivalent chromium). In Dayton system monitoring, total chromium had a highest detected concentration of 2.0 µg/L and a median of 0.45 µg/L. Since the toxicity and behavior of chromium-6 differ significantly from chromium-3, knowing total chromium alone cannot clarify your chromium-6 exposure. Testing specifically for chromium-6 is essential to understanding what form is present.

California’s 10 µg/L Chromium-6 Standard and Its Implications

California set a public health goal of 10 µg/L for chromium-6 to guide water quality, based on toxicological studies. The Dayton Valley Water System’s chromium-6 detections fall well below this level. However, California’s limit is not a federally enforceable maximum contaminant level and does not apply in Nevada. Nonetheless, it provides perspective on concentrations considered in some regulatory contexts and may inform personal water-quality decisions.

Assessing Treatment Capacity Relative to Household Water Use

To address chromium-6 in household water, treatment capacity must match the daily water demand. Typical residential water use varies but could range from 50 to 100 gallons per person per day. Treatment units capable of handling chromium-6 effectively ship ready to configure and must be able to process the volume needed for all household consumption without performance degradation.

Distinguishing Chromium-6 from Other Water Quality Issues

Chromium-6 should not be confused with other water constituents often linked to taste, staining, or general aesthetics such as chloride or iron. Unlike these, chromium-6 is a specific chemical form of chromium with unique health and chemical properties. Total dissolved solids or metallic taste are unrelated to chromium-6 concentrations recorded by the public water system here.

Seasonal and Multi-Year Variation in Chromium-6 Levels

Data from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) for the Dayton Valley Water System spans February to August 2013. During this six-month period, chromium-6 was consistently detected in all samples, with values ranging from just above 0.03 µg/L (the reporting level) up to 0.95 µg/L. Such steady detection over several months indicates a persistent presence rather than a seasonal spike, although no data beyond that period is available to evaluate longer-term trends.

What Test Should You Order to Understand Your Own Water?

Because these figures represent public system water and not your home's specific water, the only way to confidently determine your household's chromium-6 level is through a laboratory analysis targeting hexavalent chromium. This test should specify chromium-6 or Cr(VI) to distinguish it from total chromium. Obtaining this will clarify your water’s status and inform any treatment decisions.

Once you have your test results, the Fleck Chromium-6 Filter provides a documented solution designed to address chromium-6 in residential water supplies. This equipment ships ready to configure and offers treatment capacity scalable to household needs, helping ensure the water you use daily meets your standards.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2013-08-26. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Dayton Valley Water System (NV0000032), NV: 62 results across 2 listed contaminants, 50 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L