If you are concerned about chromium-6 (Also known as hexavalent chromium or Chromium VI) in your tap water, then you will want to get rid of it.
The next step is figuring out what water filtration setup will get that done for you.
That is something that I can surely help you out with. That’s because I have put some of my 26-years of experience with water filtration systems to good use to come up with a list that contains the best water filter that removes chromium 6.
In this article, I will review six excellent filters for removing chromium-6 from tap water and go over with you some other information on this substance to help you decide which one of these is the best water filter that removes chromium 6 for you.
It’s a filtration system purchase that you need to get right. That’s because of the health consequences that chromium VI can have on you and your family.
Table of Contents
Best Filters for Chromium 6 Compared
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Top Pick
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Top Pick
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#1 Aquatru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
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Best Pitcher
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Best Pitcher
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#2 Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
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CHECK PRICE |
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#3 Big Berkey Gravity Filter
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CHECK PRICE |
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#4 Clearly Filtered Under Sink System
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CHECK PRICE |
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#5 Aquasana Optim H20
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CHECK PRICE |
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#6 US Water Whole House System
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CHECK PRICE |
Evaluation Criteria
Here are the main characteristics of water filters for removing chromium-6 that you should focus your buying decision on.
Primary Filtration Method
You will want to be aware of what type of filters are inside the system. That way you will know how impactful a water treatment system is and what else it has the potential to filter out.
Percentage of Hexavalent Chromium Removed
Of course, if you are looking for a water filter that removes chromium VI, you will want it to remove as much of that illness-causing substance as possible.
Other Contaminants Removed or Reduced
Most water purification systems that remove chromium-6 will also remove many other impurities too. It helps to know what these are in case you have some of these contaminants in your tap water and want them eliminated.
Does It Have NSF/ANSI 53 Or 58 Certification?
These are great to have associated with a water filtration product because certification requires the testing to be done by an independent 3rd-party group. NSF/ANSI 53 & 58 have to do with a filtration system’s ability to filter out certain chemicals including hexavalent chromium.
Ease of Installation and Maintenance
You will want to know such system characteristics as if they have to be professionally installed or you can do it yourself. It’s also a good idea to know how much work is involved as far as maintaining a particular chromium-6 filtration system goes.
Best Filters That Remove Chromium 6 Reviewed
Here is what I feel are the best water filters to choose when it comes to eliminating chromium-6 from tap water.
1. Aquatru Countertop Reverse Osmosis System
If you want to no longer have to worry about having a significant presence of hexavalent chromium in your tap water and over 80 other contaminants too, then this quality reverse osmosis system for the countertop will be a good choice for you.
That effective filtration also made it an easy choice for the number one spot on our review list of the Best Water Filter That Removes Chromium 6.
It’s a very low-maintenance water filtration system that features 3-support filtration stages in addition to its main reverse osmosis membrane.
All this is made even better by the fact that it has an internal pump that allows it to very quickly produce ultra-purified tap water. Installation is quick and easy and the replacement filters last a long time and are inexpensive.
It’s also backed up by a 30-day money-back guarantee and has an impressive 5 NSF/ANSI certifications.
The Aquatru Countertop Reverse Osmosis System looks good too and at 18” x 18” x 15” in size it does not occupy an overwhelming amount of kitchen countertop space.
Main Features and Benefits
Primary filtration method: This is a very highly rated countertop system that incorporates trustworthy reverse osmosis filtration into it.
% of hexavalent chromium removed: It will remove up to 97.2% of Chromium VI that passes through its filter media
Other contaminants removed or reduced: Its 4 filter stages will remove chloramines & chlorine, arsenic, benzene, lead, and many more harmful impurities that are often found in water.
Does it have NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification: This unit comes with many NFS/ANSI certifications including NSF/ANSI 53 and 58 which relate to chromium-6 removal. Other NSF/ANSI certifications it has are 42, 401, and P473
Ease of installation and maintenance: Countertop water filters are among the easiest to install and this one just needs to be assembled and plugged in. The filters it uses only have to be replaced every 1200-Gallons or 2-Years.
Pros:
- Effectively removes 97.2% hexavalent chromium
- Removes 81 other contaminants too
- Long filter life
- Inexpensive replacement RO filters
- Includes 3 additional filtration stages
- Produces filtered water almost instantly
- Fairly compact
- Simple Installation
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Somewhat pricey initial cost
- Needs an electrical outlet nearby to work
- Small 1-gallon water storage capacity
- Has to have filters replaced every 6-months to 2-years
2. Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
If you know anything about water filtration, it may surprise you that a gravity-fed water pitcher would occupy the 2nd spot on my review countdown. This one sure surprised me when I found out how effective it is at cleaning up household water.
That includes this gravity-fed water pitcher being able to reduce chromium-6 by a nice 97.8%. But its effectiveness as a water filter does not stop there either. It will remove more than 350 contaminants from the water that you drink too.
It makes about 10-cups of purified water at a time which can get a little tedious if your family drinks a lot of water but the quality of that water will be unprecedented when it comes to water pitcher filtration.
Setup is a breeze and the costly replacement filters can be changed out in a few minutes or less. A 30-day satisfaction guarantee and lifetime warranty give added confidence when buying it.
Main Features and Benefits
Primary filtration method: It uses a 3-stage filter whose primary stage is made of very impactful composite shell carbon.
% of hexavalent chromium removed: This convenient pitcher-style water filter will remove 97.8% of the chromium-6 that goes through it.
Other contaminants removed or reduced: There are several including fluoride, lead, mercury, glyphosate, PFOAs & PFASs, arsenic, and microplastics.
Does it have NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification: Yes, this filter has the coveted NSF/ANSI 53 certification that applies to chromium removal and also NSF/ANSI 42, 244, 401, and P473 certifications.
Ease of installation and maintenance: Water filter pitchers are about as simple as it gets when it comes to ease of installation and maintenance. The short 4-month filter life and somewhat costly ($50) replacement filters are a drawback.
Pros:
- Reduces chromium VI by 97.8%
- Uses 3-stage filtration
- 5 different NSF/ANSI certifications including #53
- Made from Tritan 100% BPA-free material
- Retains natural and healthy minerals
- Low initial purchase price
- USA-made
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Short filter life
- Somewhat costly replacement filters
- Small 80-ounce capacity (10-cups)
3. Big Berkey Gravity Water Filter
This is a gravity-fed water filter that shows up on many of our ‘best one’ review lists. That’s because it has just about the most impactful active carbon filtration system that you will find on any type of water filtration system.
This is something that gets even better when you consider how easy it is to set up and use.
It will eliminate over 99% of the chromium-6 that passes through along with significant amounts of over 200 other contaminants. It’s backed up by a lifetime warranty and its filters, albeit expensive to replace, only have to be replaced every 3000-gallons or 2-years.
At 21” in height, it may not fit under your kitchen cabinets in some kitchen spaces but since it has no water hookup and does not need electricity to run, you can place it anywhere in your kitchen it will fit. Its stainless-steel finish looks good and adds durability to the product too.
You will have to fill it up manually and it does filter slowly but that is somewhat offset by its large 2.25-gallon water storage capacity.
Main Features and Benefits
Primary filtration method: It uses gravity-fed activated carbon block filters.
% of hexavalent chromium removed: Removes up to 99.85% of the chromium VI that passes through it.
Other contaminants removed or reduced: This filter reduces or removes an impressive list of water impurities. A list that includes chlorine and chloramines (residual chlorine) to undetectable limits, viruses, pharmaceuticals, pathogenic bacteria (99.9% including E. Coli), arsenic, and nitrites.
Does it have NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification: While this countertop water filter is not NSF/ANSI 53 certified, the manufacturer claims other independent testing sources confirm it meets or exceeds this standard.
Ease of installation and maintenance: It takes just a few minutes to set up this water filter as it needs no electricity or water hookup to operate it.
Pros:
- Reduces or removes over 200 contaminants
- 3000-gallon or 2-year filter life
- Generous 2.25-gallon storage capacity
- Durable stainless-steel construction
- Quick set up
- Easy maintenance
- Acceptable 3.5 GPH flow rate
- It’s somewhat portable
- Lifetime product warranty
Cons:
- Replacement filters are costly
- Manually filled
- Unavailable in California or Iowa
- Some report an initial bad taste to the water
- At 21” high may not clear some kitchen cabinet bottoms
4. Clearly Filtered Under Sink System
Under-sink water purification systems are known to produce some of the highest quality drinking water and this Clearly Filtered product is no exception. It will effectively remove over 99% of the chromium VI that travels through it.
It’s a 3-stage point-of-use filter that uses a mix of carbon and proprietary filter media. That allows it to filter out much more than just hexavalent chromium. Three NSF/ANSI certifications back up what the manufacturer claims about its effectiveness.
It is a DIY installation compatible device and its filters need to be changed after 2000-gallons of water have been treated by them. A 30-day satisfaction guarantee and lifetime warranty are a sign of the manufacturer’s confidence in this product to do what they say it will.
Main Features and Benefits
Primary filtration method: This system features a quality 3-Stage Carbon and Proprietary Filter Mix.
% of hexavalent chromium removed: You can expect less than 1-percent of the chromium (99.4% removal rate) that goes into this filtration system to make its way past it.
Other contaminants removed or reduced: It will also remove significant amounts of chlorine, VOCs, arsenic, fluoride, pesticides, and more.
Does it have NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification: It has the desired chromium-related NSF/ANSI 53 certification and is also NSF/ANSI 42 and 401certirfied.
Ease of installation and maintenance: The manufacturer claims this product can be installed by just about anyone and with only two connections to be made that’s certainly possible. Filter changes are tool-free and only have to be done after 2000 gallons of water has passed through them.
Pros:
- Effectively removes 99.4% of chromium VI
- 3-stage filtration that removes or reduces many impurities
- Retains essential minerals
- 3” deep filters allow for next to the wall installation
- Easy DIY installation
- USA-made
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- No hot water line water purification
- High initial cost
- Drops the water pressure around 20%
- Regular filter changes required
5. Aquasana Optim H2O Under Sink System
Aquasana is a big name in water filtration, so it’s no surprise this under-sink reverse osmosis style water filter system is on this list as a Best Water Filter That Removes Chromium 6.
It’s a system that will filter out up to 97% of hexavalent chromium out of your water along with some 87 other impurities. It does this through the use of its proven reverse osmosis membrane and two other carbon-based filters.
The remineralization feature is a nice add-on and it comes with an all-inclusive installation kit. Despite that, you should strongly consider having it professionally installed to prevent leaking.
This system does not require a whole lot of maintenance and when that needs to be done, it’s very simple to do. The filtration system itself is inexpensive ($249.99) but the cost of the replacement filters will make up for most of that over time.
Main Features and Benefits
Primary filtration method: It features a combination reverse osmosis and carbon filtration system.
% of hexavalent chromium removed: This filtration system will remove 97% of the chromium-6 that passes through it.
Other contaminants removed or reduced: Other impurities this filter removes or reduces include chlorine & chloramine, VOCs, lead, arsenic, mercury, fluoride, TDS, PFOA & PFOS, and more.
Does it have NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification: It comes with the preferred NSF/ANSI 53 and 58 certifications along with NSF/ANSI 42, 401, and P473 certifications.
Ease of installation and maintenance: There is a good possibility that you will need to have this system professionally installed. Filters will have to be changed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations which is usually 6-months to a year depending on the filter type.
Pros:
- Uses proven reverse osmosis technology
- Filters 97% of chromium
- Reduces 87 other impurities too
- Reasonably priced reverse osmosis filtration
- Comes with a decorative faucet
- Includes remineralization
- Easy to maintain
- Included water storage tank
Cons:
- Slow filtration
- Some maintenance required
- Expensive yearly filter cartridge replacement
- Best to have professionally installed
6. US Water Purely EZ Whole House Triple Filter System
If you are not only concerned with ingesting chromium-6 but also worried about the impact it can have on your skin, eyes, and other exterior body parts, then this whole-house water filtration system can help with that.
Very rarely does a point-of-use filtration system remove chromium-6 but this one does. At an 85% hexavalent chromium removal rate, it’s just slightly less effective at doing that than most point-of-use water filters.
So, you effectively get the best of both worlds with this type of system and 100% of your incoming water gets treated. It features a quality 3-stage filter setup and a good 15 GPM water flow.
At $599 it’s also fairly budget-friendly for a whole-house filter. Keep in mind that you will most likely need it to be professionally installed and you will have to change its filter elements occasionally (about every 6-months).
Main Features and Benefits
Primary filtration method: It has a 3-stage filter setup that consists of a sediment filter, sub-micron powdered activated carbon filter w/added Agion silver, and a radial flow carbon filter.
% of hexavalent chromium removed: You can expect this system to remove up to 85% of the chromium VI that passes through its filters.
Other contaminants removed or reduced: This point-of-entry filter also removes or reduces chlorine, lead, iron, viruses, bacteria, arsenic, and more.
Does it have NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification: It not only has NSF/ANSI 53 certification but also NSF/ANSI 42 and 401 certifications.
Ease of installation and maintenance: 95% of the time, whole-house water filters require professional installation and you will have to follow the manufacturer’s recommended filter change schedule.
Pros:
- Removes 85% of hexavalent chromium
- Treats 100% of the water coming into your home
- Efficient 3-stage filtration
- Filters much more than just chromium-6
- Comes with NSF/ANSI certifications
- 15 GPM flow rate
- Installation kit included
- Simple to maintain
Cons:
- Requires professional installation
- Not as impactful with chromium-6 as a POU system
- Some periodic maintenance is necessary
- Not ideal for well water
Chromium 6 Water Filter Buyers Guide
What is Chromium 6?
There are several different types of ionic variants of chromium metal that are found in the environment.
Of these, the two most abundant are chromium-3 (trivalent chromium) which is considered to be a healthy supplement and chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) which is toxic to your body.
Chromium-6 is found naturally occurring in the environment and it can be man-made too. It’s tasteless & odorless and only adds a yellowish tint to water when it is present in excessively high amounts.
The naturally occurring version of hexavalent chromium comes from plants, animals, humans, rocks, volcanic ash, dust, soil, and more.
Erosion caused by groundwater movement is the main way that naturally occurring chromium-6 ends up in the source that supplies your home with water.
Naturally occurring chromium-6, unfortunately, only contributes to a small percentage of the amount of this element that contaminates many tap water sources.
Man-made sources are by far the biggest contributor when it comes to hexavalent chromium water contamination as oftentimes the waste associated with these processes is not treated or disposed of properly.
Substances containing chromium-6 are used in many industrial processes such as steel manufacturing, textile making, chrome plating, and the preservation of wood and leather goods.
Electrical power plants also use hexavalent chromium (think the movie ‘Erin Brockovich’) in their cooling towers and it’s often found in the ash residue that’s leftover from burning coal to generate electricity.
PBS.org claims that one study which was done by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggested that over 66% of the households in the USA have some level of chromium-6 in their water supply.
This mostly comes from the presence of hexavalent chromium in what is known as sodium dichromate dihydrate.
How to Test Your Water for Chromium 6
It was already mentioned that your senses will not warn you as to the presence of hexavalent chromium in your household water. That means you will have to test your water to detect it’s there.
The most accurate way to do this is through the use of infrared spectroscopy. This is a technology that is neither readily available nor practical for home use.
That leaves using test strips or getting lab analysis done as the best way to determine the presence of chromium-6 in your tap water.
Test Strips
Using a test strip to see if you have chromium-6 is very easy. First of all, you have to make sure that the test kit that you buy can detect hexavalent chromium in tap water. One that I know for sure does is the ON4HOME 18-in-1 Drinking Water Test Kit.
You just dip the strips that come with these test kits in a sample of your water and then compare the color the test strip turns to a chart that is either on the test strip bottle or included in the package.
The drawback to test strips is they are not as accurate as lab testing for hexavalent chromium.
That’s why if you test your tap water with strips and the results say there is chromium present in it, then follow that up with more accurate lab testing. This will give you a much better idea of how much hexavalent chromium is present in your water.
Lab Testing
If you really want a truer estimate of the extent that chromium is found in your tap water, then I suggest you use lab analysis for this.
The easiest way to do this is to order a test kit online. These have everything inside them that you need including water sample bottles.
You just fill them up to the marking on them and then send those back to the company for professional lab analyses. This is especially important if you have well water.
The results of the testing will also provide you with many more details about your home’s water in addition to the chromium VI levels present in it.
I always recommend the Tap Score Professional Lab Testing Kit to my friends and family that are concerned about what impurities are lurking in their tap water.
It will help you determine if you have chromium-6 contamination and alert you to the presence of over 200 other concerning impurities that are commonly found in household water.
I also suggest that anytime you move into a new place of residence, you test your water with a quality test kit. That way you will know if you may be exposing your family and yourself to chromium-6 or any number of other harmful contaminants.
Negative Health Effects of Chromium 6
There is a reason why so many people that find out they have hexavalent chromium in their tap water want to remove it.
This is because all of the studies that have been done on it show the potential health risks associated with ingesting hexavalent chromium even in small amounts over time.
These include the fact that it’s a known carcinogen that contributes to lung, mouth, intestinal, nasal, and sinus cancers. It has also been linked to issues surrounding such body parts as the stomach, intestines, kidneys, and liver.
When your body’s exterior is exposed to chromium-6 it can also cause nasal, skin, and eye irritations.
Even male reproduction issues have been linked to chromium VI intake into the body. There have surely been enough studies done on this ionic variant of chromium to make anyone who has it in their tap water very wary of its presence.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of all these known ailments that are associated with hexavalent chromium in tap water is the hesitancy of state and federal governments to strictly regulate it.
The EPA recommends that chromium VI in drinking water not exceed 100 parts per billion (PPB).
States such as California have set the legal limit at 50 PPB. At the same time, private researchers have warned that the acceptable levels of this commonly found water impurity should be much lower at around 1 to 2 PPB.
Types of Chromium 6 Filters
Here are the various types of water filters that can remove a large percentage of hexavalent chromium from your tap water:
- Reverse Osmosis
This type of filtration system is always a safe bet when it comes to removing hexavalent chromium and many other water contaminants.
- Activated Carbon Block
It must be noted that it takes exceptionally good activated carbon block filters to remove small particle-sized chromium-6.
- Distillation
This is effective technology at removing chromium VI but it takes a lot of time and effort to do it.
- Ion Exchange
This is another form of impactful chromium-6 removal but it’s not really practical for home use.
- KDF Filtration and Others
KDF and some other filter types will catch varying amounts of hexavalent chromium but not at the more impactful levels that reverse osmosis and high-end carbon filters do.
Also, check out our guide on how to remove chromium 6 from water for more detailed information.
Be Proactive When It comes to Hexavalent Chromium Removal
There truly are many risks associated with drinking water contaminated with hexavalent chromium. So, you are right to want to remove it from your drinking water. You now know the best methods for doing that.
I have even reviewed with you some excellent water filtration choices for removing chromium-6.
The best of which I believe is the Aquatru Countertop Reverse Osmosis System. It will not only keep you safe from having too much chromium VI in your tap water, but it will filter out many more harmful impurities too.
Your family’s and your health are too important not to protect it and a big part of that comes from drinking purer water. So, don’t delay when it comes to getting a quality water filtration system installed that will remove chromium-6 almost completely.
