ATLANTA, Ga.,None — Federal, state and local officials are reassuring Atlanta's residents that the drinking water is safe after an environmental lobbyist group issued a report stating it found trace levels of Hexavalent Chromium or Chromium 6 in the city's water supply.
The Environmental Working Group tested water in 35 American cities. It said it found 0.20 parts per billion of Chromium 6 in a single sample of Atlanta's drinking water. Chromium 6 is the chemical featured in the movie "Erin Brockovich." The EPA does categorize Chromium 6 as a "likely carcinogen." But the EPA also told Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot that 0.20 parts per billion is far below the 100 parts per billion it considers safe for total Chromium. It did not consider the levels found in Atlanta's water to be of any concern.
"We have gold award winning water," said Dexter White, Interim Director of Watershed Management. White dismissed the report, saying Chromium levels are so low, customers shouldn't worry about water safety. He said the report is not concerning because Atlanta pulls its water from the Chattahoochee River, and not from an underground water aquifer. He said Chromium 6 is usually associated from ground water taken from so-called brown fields or near industrial sources.
"Generally, that inorganic constituent is usually associated with ground water and with ground water not being a major source of our drinking water supply, it's pretty much a non-issue," said White.
At Taqueria Del Sol, a restaurant directly across the street from one of Atlanta's reservoirs on Howell Mill Road, restaurant owner Eddie Hernandez told Elliot he's not at all worried about the water. He said he's so careful about his own water supply, he actually tests it for purity every day.
"When you're in our business, you have to think about customer safety," said Hernandez. "At this point, I think the water is fine. I drink it. I just drank some today."
Donna Simmons was a restaurant customer. She told Elliot she's not worried about Chromium 6 levels in Atlanta's water, but she is glad the report came out.
"I think the public should know what's out there," she said. "I think we have a right to know and to do our own research at that point in time."
On its website, The Environmental Working Group stated it wants to push the EPA to create stricter standards for Chromium 6 levels in the nation's drinking water supply.
WSBTV
