CVWD sends chromium-6 notices, says water remains safe, warns bills could double
Garrett Hottle
THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) The Coachella Valley Water District has notified customers across its service area that levels of naturally occurring chromium-6 are above California’s new drinking water standard, according to a state-approved notice mailed this week.
CVWD said the issue is not an emergency and the water “remains safe to drink.”
Routine samples reviewed in October showed running annual averages between 11 and 14 parts per billion of chromium-6, the notice said. California implemented a new maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion on Oct. 1, 2024. The state is the only one in the country with a chromium-6-specific standard.
Chromium-6 occurs naturally in the Coachella Valley aquifer, created over time as rocks and sediment break down. CVWD officials emphasized the findings do not reflect a spill, leak, or industrial contamination.
“This isn’t an emergency, and the water is still safe to drink,” said Lorraine Garcia with CVWD, She added that the new state mandate could cost the district about $350 million and may lead to water bills doubling for customers once a compliance plan is approved.
CVWD has submitted its plan to the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water. Options include removing wells from service, drilling new wells, or constructing new treatment facilities. The district said it tests more than 17,000 water samples per year and continues to meet all existing state and federal standards during the compliance period.
Under state law, CVWD must send these notices every quarter until the plan is approved.
Residents can find more information at cvwd.org/Cr6 or contact the district’s Water Quality Division at 760-398-2651.