Hex chrome has become a hot topic again. The watchdog committee, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), recently tested tap water, finding chromium-6 in 31 cities across the U.S.
Hexawhat Who? What is Chromium-6 (a.k.a. Hexavalent Chromium)?
Hexavalent chromium (or chromium-6) is a metal used in processing such as metal plating, steel production, metal working, paint manufacturing, glassmaking, leather tanning, and cement creation. It is a terrific metal-coating and corrosion prevention product, and it has been a key tool for many years.
Hex chrome is also a volatile cancer agent.
And you remembered correctly – it was the underground water contaminant poisoning the water source (and people) in Hinkley, Ca. Hinkley’s suffering became the crusade that turned Erin Brockovich into a household name, and led to the hit movie.
Bottled Water Is Safer, Right?
The EPA requires testing for chromium in city tap water systems. These results are made public, so you will know.
Sadly, no testing is required for bottled water, be it individually hand held bottles, or giant office water jugs. Much bottled water is purely untested tap water – but you would not know it was poisoned. If the source of your spring water – groundwater is, of course, the source of spring water bottled water – were tainted with chromium, well, you couldn’t know that either.
Tap water is held to a higher standard. You can find out what you’re drinking.
You can purify the water!
Reverse Osmosis and Hexavalent Chromium.
If you’ve got hexavalent chromium in your water supply, a common activated carbon filter is not going to be powerful enough. Fortunately, another relatively common and usable filtration technology, Reverse Osmosis (RO), is readily achievable.
Reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration needs a special membrane housed with mini pores. When water pressure is pushed against one side, the pores allow the water molecules to squeeze through, but block the passage of bad stuff. Reverse osmosis is particularly effective against inorganic chemicals and heavy metals – like chromium-6. The end result is purified, clean drinking water. The bi-product is improved water taste.
Bottleless (Filtered) Water Coolers Provide Reverse Osmosis as a Standard Option
There is a wide range of bottleless, or filtered, water coolers found online. Some make reverse osmosis a feature; some do not. Bottleless coolers are money savers, even with the high-end reverse osmosis option. Usually they’re also usually less costly than purchasing an equal volume of bottled water.
Were You On the List? US Cities Where Chromium-6 Was Found in Tap Water
The list of cities found to have hexavalent chromium in the city water supply were San Jose, Pittsburgh, and Milwaukee, to name a few.
Filtered water is cheap, clean, and better tasting. It’s healthier for you. If you’re a bottled water drinker, you should rethink your choices. If you have bottled (or jug) office water, you should let your office manager know about their choices. As noted, green businesses sell bottleless office water coolers. Forward them to the decision makers. Keep yourself healthy.
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