Chromium VI

 

SJWC maintains an exemplary water quality compliance record and provides high quality drinking water that meets or surpasses all applicable US Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Public Health regulations. We are concerned about the recent Environmental Working Group Report identifying the presence of low levels of chromium VI in drinking water supplies throughout many US cities, including San Jose.

While there is currently no drinking water standard set specifically for chromium VI, a drinking water standard for total chromium, which includes chromium VI and other forms of chromium, does exist. Concentrations in SJWC’s supplies are well below the drinking water standard and at no time has our water failed to meet this standard. Chromium VI can occur naturally in the environment, and water sources can be affected by it naturally, or through contamination from industrial sources or improper discharges from landfills.

Currently, state and federal drinking water regulations do not require regular monitoring specifically for chromium VI by public water systems. However, SJWC has conducted some testing as part of special studies or regulations designed to determine the occurrence of a wide range of unregulated contaminants. In 2002, SJWC tested several water sources for chromium VI, and found low levels ranging from nondetect to 5.8 parts per billion. Further testing conducted from 2007 through 2008 at recently constructed groundwater extraction wells showed levels ranging from nondetect to 5.7 parts per billion.

Chromium VI is known to naturally occur at low levels in many groundwater supplies, including those in the San Jose area. The US Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Public Health are responsible for evaluating the need to regulate specific contaminants in drinking water. These agencies are currently reviewing chromium VI for possible further monitoring and regulation. SJWC will continue to work with the regulatory agencies to conduct appropriate monitoring and ensure our water meets or surpasses all applicable drinking water regulations.

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