tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post6585648157678453132..comments2023-10-08T04:12:46.273-05:00Comments on The Political Environment: Milwaukee Water Works Statement On Chromium, National Water AnalysisJames Rowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-12042430356209412482010-12-20T16:43:37.779-06:002010-12-20T16:43:37.779-06:00Riverkepper, how do you remove chrome-6 from a pub...Riverkepper, how do you remove chrome-6 from a public water utility? Does anybody currently do this or is it uncharted territory? <br /><br />Thanks for the science lesson! I always enjoy your informative talking points.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-83158877296865513422010-12-20T16:37:27.069-06:002010-12-20T16:37:27.069-06:00Given the mass dilution and the level detected, on...Given the mass dilution and the level detected, one can only imagine the environmental damaged that potentially could have been caused by midnight dumping from industries all around Lake Michigan over the last century. <br /><br />Frightning thought, isn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-57461117674042048742010-12-20T14:15:40.530-06:002010-12-20T14:15:40.530-06:00Thank you, Riverkeeper. And I agree - - props to t...Thank you, Riverkeeper. And I agree - - props to the utility for a fast response and intention to test further.<br /><br />Its the feds who have dropped the ball.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-20209117764345710832010-12-20T13:52:31.005-06:002010-12-20T13:52:31.005-06:00I'm glad that MWW responded so quickly, but th...I'm glad that MWW responded so quickly, but they really don't address many of the issues raised in the report. MWW states its results for total chromium of less than 2 ppb (ug/l). Total chromium is largely made up of trivalent chromium (which is needed for metabolism of glucose) and chromium-6, which is cancer causing. <br />EPA is pondering whether putting in standards for chromium-6, and that should be supported. CA is proposing a limit of .06 ppb for chromium-6 to protect public health. The study here found our chromium-6 limit to be .18 ppb, which is triple that standard. Given our total chromium limit of 2, this seems like a plausible number as we are not required to test for this yet. Most studies I've seen suggest that 50-70% of total chromium is generally chromium-6 depending on local conditions and source of drinking water (groundwater being more sensitive to this pollution). I find it concerning that levels from Lake Michigan seem so high (Chicago had same .18 ppb). Clearly, we have a heavy history of tanneries, mills, etc that used chrom-6, but am still pretty surprised by that number given mass dilution of lake. If numbers are confirmed low in plant, than seems to make sense to look at the collection system. Its good to hear that MWW is already looking into this!Riverkeeperhttp://www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.orgnoreply@blogger.com