If you've noticed questions about chromium-6 at your tap in El Paso County, you're considering how the information about this contaminant applies to your household water. The Widefield Water and Sanitation District (WSD) supplies surface water to over 27,000 people in this area, including your home, and federal monitoring results provide a useful overview of chromium-6 presence in the system.
Many assume California's 10 µg/L chromium-6 limit is nationwide—what does that mean here?
California set a public health goal at 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L or parts per billion) for chromium-6 to guide drinking water safety, an approach based on studies local to that state. However, in El Paso County, the Widefield WSD is mandated by federal and state agencies to meet total chromium standards, with no separate legal threshold for chromium-6. The monitoring between 2013 and 2015 found chromium-6 levels ranging mostly well below 1 µg/L, far under California's advisory level. This difference illustrates that regional data and regulations vary, so interpreting California’s limit here requires caution and further testing of your own water.
Why total chromium testing does not answer how much chromium-6 is in your water
Total chromium includes all chromium forms, both trivalent (chromium-3) and hexavalent (chromium-6). While the public water system recorded some total chromium up to 1.1 µg/L in samples, hexavalent chromium was detected separately with a highest value of 0.62 µg/L. This shows that total chromium values cannot reliably indicate chromium-6 concentration because the two forms differ chemically and in effects. Knowing your household’s chromium-6 specifically requires a specialized laboratory test targeting hexavalent chromium.
Common assumptions about water tasting metallic or causing skin irritation often relate to chromium-6—what is the record’s insight?
Chromium-6 at typical levels measured in the Widefield WSD water is unlikely to cause taste or irritation symptoms. Such sensory effects often arise from other water characteristics or compounds. Therefore, unusual taste or skin issues should prompt testing for multiple water quality factors rather than solely chromium-6. The presence of chromium-6 in low concentrations alone does not explain household water symptoms.
Why secondary standards for chromium differ from health-based limits and what that means for your water
Secondary standards address aesthetic aspects such as taste, staining, and corrosivity rather than health risks. The Widefield WSD record does not identify chromium levels exceeding these secondary criteria either. This absence means that chromium-6 in your area is not linked to issues like discolored plumbing fixtures or metallic taste. These standards are separate from health-based limits and do not imply safety concerns when not met.
What sources contribute chromium-6 to water in El Paso County, and how they compare to other regions
Hexavalent chromium in this area often arises naturally from geologic conditions—alkaline and arid aquifers releasing chromium from minerals. This natural source contrasts with industrial chromium contamination found in urban or manufacturing settings. The Widefield WSD surface water supply reflects these geogenic influences rather than industrial pollution. Understanding the source assists in selecting appropriate testing and treatment approaches tailored to household needs.
How to prioritize your tests before choosing a treatment option for chromium-6
- Start with a certified laboratory test specifically for chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI)) to establish your home’s level.
- Consider testing total chromium to provide complementary information but do not rely on this alone.
- Evaluate secondary factors such as water taste, staining, or plumbing corrosion, which chromium-6 alone does not cause.
- Once levels are known, compare treatment technologies that target chromium-6 effectively, understanding their mechanisms and maintenance.
For households in El Paso County concerned about chromium-6, the Fleck Chromium-6 Filter provides an option designed to address hexavalent chromium specifically. This equipment ships ready to configure and works with your existing water system to help manage chromium-6 concentrations based on your test results.
In summary, the Widefield WSD public water system record shows chromium-6 present at detectable but low levels between 0.03 and 0.62 µg/L as measured during 2013–2015 federal monitoring. There are no health-based violations for chromium in this system’s record. Understanding the difference between total chromium and chromium-6, plus testing your own water, is essential before considering treatment. For more details, consult the EPA’s public water system data for the Widefield WSD.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2014-08-11. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Widefield WSD (CO0121900), CO: 98 results across 2 listed contaminants, 58 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for hexavalent chromium; total chromium MCL 100 ug/L
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