• DAY 6: Cancer Causing Chromium 6 Found in 75% of US Tap Water Samples

    Alert: Chromium 6 found in the tap water serving more than 200 million Americans. Your tap water is more likely than not to be affected. What you need to know.

    What is Chromium 6 and how bad is it? 

    Chromium 6 is a heavy metal that is categorized as a Group 1 carcinogen according to the World Health Organization or WHO. It is a by-product of industrial manufacturing and is known to cause cancer in what is considered extremely small concentrations. More on this later.

    Chromium 6 compound

    This is the same heavy metal that Erin Brockovich brought attention to with her 2000 movie starring Julia Roberts that documented the poisoning of Hinkley, CA with Chromium 6.

    The alarming study released late 2016 by the Environmental Working Group or “EWG” took samples from 60,000 sources nationwide and found that 75% of them contained a measurable amount of Hexavalent Chromium, commonly referred to as Chromium 6 (or Chromium VI). This means that 218 million Americans are affected by this issue. While the mere presence of the Chromium 6 is problematic and alarming, it’s really the concentrations at which it is toxic which pose the greatest challenge to consumers health.

    218 million americans affected by Chromium 6The substance is extremely toxic at very, very low levels. So low that California scientists have labeled Chromium 6 dangerous when it exceeds just 0.02 parts per billion. Yes, that is parts per Billion not Million. One part per billion (ppb) equates to 1 part per every 1,000,000,000 parts. For a frame of reference, one part per billion is roughly equal to about one drop of water in an Olympic sized swimming pool. It’s practically nothing, but the research shows that there really isn’t a safe amount of Chromium VI in your water.

    Scientific research from a two-year study done by the National Toxicology Program (2008) found that drinking water with Chromium VI caused cancer in the test subjects. So far, California is the only state to have a public health goal and an enforceable legal limit on this highly toxic, cancer-causing compound. However, the limit is set at 500 times what the researchers have declared as the health goal. That means there could be many times what is considered “safe” before they ever get close to the limit of what is acceptable for you to drink according to tap water regulations.

    It should be noted that while Chromium 6 is something so potent and dangerous to your health it has no perceptible smell or odor, no taste and no visible signs of its presence. You can only tell if your water is affected by sophisticated laboratory testing procedures at a certified water quality lab. This contributes to part of the problem as most all of the consumers drinking the tap water have no practical way of measuring Chromium concentrations. The truth is you could be drinking it right now and have absolutely no idea. 

    Here is the map published by the EWG which shows the counties affected by Chromium in their tap water from the samples they obtained. Click here or click the map below to search to see if your area is affected (please not that this doesnt mean it will not be affected in the future!) 

    Interactive Chromium 6 Map - See if you're affected!

    This leads many Americans to ask the question: Why aren’t we doing more as a country to deliver our drinking water? That’s a good question. The answer has to do with the cost and technical feasibility of performing the proper filtration to remove the contaminants. That is to say, it’s far too many gallons and costs too much to remove it on a nation-wide level. So the result is they don’t do anything about it and it continues to flow from the polluted water source into your pipes in your home or apartment and it becomes the water you drink. That is, unless you do something about it!

    The good news here is our Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is tested to remove Chromium 6 by up to 96%. So you can protect you and your family from this mostly-unregulated contaminant that is known to be harmful to your health.

    Don’t wait, take action, filter your water with a product that has been specifically tested to remove Chromium 6. Most all of the products you find at the store will not remove it. Popular brands like Brita DO NOT protect you against this type of contamination. You need a more robust filter to get these heavy metals out.

    That’s where the Clearly Filtered pitcher thrives. On those tricky to remove contaminants like Chromium 6 that the other filters on the market simply leave behind.

    Remove Chromium 6 - Shop ClearlyFiltered Clean Water Pitcher


    Does my water have Chromium 6?

    From the EWG study just published it appears that more than 2/3rds of all Americans (218 million people) are at serious risk of encountering Chromium 6 in their drinking water.

    What kind of filter removes Chromium 6?

    Only higher-end filters like ClearlyFiltered’s Water Pitcher have the capability to remove contaminants like Chromium 6. Most pitchers do not make this claim.

    Does Brita filter out Chromium 6?

    No, Brita is not designed to remove Chromium 6.

    Is any amount of Chromium 6 okay?

    Scientists are still testing but concentrations as low as 0.02ppb are where current health goals are set in California.

    What is the limit for Chromium 6 in the tap water?

    Currently only California has a limit of 10ppb for their water. There is no national standard or limit set by the EPA at this time.

    How do I know if I have Chromium 6 in my water?

    Use the EWG website as a reference, it contains helpful information that may be applicable to your community water source.

    How do I get a Chromium 6 water filter?

    Your best bet is to order one online and have it shipped to you. You can do so right here on our website by clicking here.



    http://www.ewg.org/research/chromium-six-found-in-us-tap-water http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/20/health/chromium-6-in-drinking-water/http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/hexchrom/research.html

    Posted by Asaiah Passwater
  • Tap Water Making Headlines

    Since the major news coverage of the Flint, Michigan tap water crisis, many other cities have been coming up in the news questioning their own municipal water supply. With many of the US municipal water systems "coming of age" we will likely be hearing much more news about issues about the health of our drinking water. Because of the outpour of frustration behind Flint many other cities are trying their best to not seek the same fate in the publics eyes. Their solution . . . underreport and systematically downplay the levels of contaminants such as lead and copper in the water.

    Scientists have come forward stating that they are seeing blatant "distortion of test data" to make the water in their cities perceive to be healthier than it really is. 


    It is hard to believe that Flint, Michigan is a one-off case. With many of the major cities east of the Mississippi all under-reporting their levels of dangerous contaminants in the water, its only a matter of time before these reports hit the news stands. There comes a time in the very near future that our cities municipal water systems have run their course and will need to be updated. Original lead piping systems are planned to last between 60-95 years and many of those systems are overdue for an upgrade. We still have many questions to be answered, but its looking as if we will be hearing many more accounts of issues with municipal tap water systems.

    In Sebring, Ohio in August of 2015 showed extreme levels of lead in their water because workers stopped adding chemicals that were leading to the pipes corroding faster.  It took the city 5 months to recognize the problem and inform the local pregnant women and children to stop drinking the water and turn off public consumption of the water at local schools. 


    Just last week the city of Los Angeles had to provide bottled water to 5 schools which "mysteriously" were found to have murky water likely linked to the lead piping system.

    We posted a blog post last week highlighting the State of Emergency declared in Newburgh, New York because high levels of PFOS in their water supply. http://www.clearlyfiltered.com/blogs/blog/116666884-water-contamination-in-new-york-water-supply

    Rules and science are outdated. The E.P.A.’s trigger level for addressing lead in drinking water — 15 parts per billion — is not based on any health threat; rather, it reflects a calculation that water in at least nine in 10 homes susceptible to lead contamination will fall below that standard.

    Is it time to hold the EPA accountable for testing and limit standards across the country? Shouldn't these standards be tied to the best interest of the health of the people paying for and consuming the water? 

    Our pitcher is one of the few filtered water pitchers that truly removes many of the unhealthy contaminants that we are starting to see pop up in the news. Where Brita just masks the idea that its actually giving you healthier water by merely providing you with "better tasting" water, we remove up 99.99% of harmful contaminants including copper, lead, arsenic, PFOS, as well more than 70 others.  Make sure you have the best pitcher on the market because there is a good chance you will be needing to use it before your city tells you to do so.

    Use Coupon code "TAPWATER" to receive 20% OFF your next order to ensure clean water for you and your family.







    Posted by Ryan Fair
  • Flint Donation Update

    In January, we launched a campaign to help the citizens of Flint, Michigan gain access to clean and safe water in their homes and community.

    According to CCN, “Flint, Michigan, lies about 70 miles from the shores of the largest group of fresh water bodies in the world: the Great Lakes. Yet its residents can't get clean water from their taps. Nearly two years ago, the state decided to save money by switching Flint's water supply from Lake Huron (which they were paying the city of Detroit for), to the Flint River, a notorious tributary that runs through town known to locals for its filth.

    "We thought it was a joke," said Rhonda Kelso, a long-time Flint resident. "People my age and older, thought 'They're not going to do that.' "

    The switch was made during a financial state of emergency for the ever-struggling industrial town. It was supposed to be temporary while a new state-run supply line to Lake Huron was ready for connection. The project was estimated to take about two years.” http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/health/toxic-tap-water-flint-michigan/

    Since Clearly Filtered’s pitcher and bottle filters remove 97.5% of lead, we knew our filters had to be placed in the hands of the Flint community. Our loyal customers wanted to join Clearly Filtered and together we were able to donate over $25,000 worth of Clearly Filtered product. 

    The products were sent to a local church. The donations were distributed to three senior living centers, along with distributing the pitchers and bottles during a monthly food give away to Flint residents. According to the local church, “the kids loved the bottles and everyone was so appreciative!”.

    Thank you to our Clearly Filtered family for making a difference in others’ lives through clean and safe water!

    Posted by Brooke Davis
  • What is Happening in Flint, Michigan?




    Posted by Brooke Smith
  • Tap Water in Your Bottles

  • Are You Paying Bottled Water Prices for Municipal Tap Water?  
  • Are You Drinking Water that Tastes Good but is Still Filled with Unhealthy Contaminants?
  • Do You Know that Some Water Pitcher Filters and Water Bottle Filters, Brita included, only Change the Taste but Do Not Remove the Harmful Chemicals?

  • Can you tell the difference between tap water and filtered water...water that has fluoride, chlorine and other contaminants removed through a purification and filtration process? Would you be surprised to learn that in side-by-side taste tests, most people preferred the taste of tap water to bottled water, even though tap water includes chlorine and a wide range of other contaminants?  The fact is, the largest bottled water companies use water from the same source as tap water, and until recently, they have tried to hide it from you.  

    The world’s largest bottled water brand, Aquafina, has been challenged by Corporate Accountability International, and it is now changing its label to address claims of misleading marketing practices.  The “P.W.S.” that has been on Aquafina’s label will now be spelled out as “Public Water Source,” which means it comes from the same supply as your tap water...tap water that has chlorine, fluoride and other contaminants that affect your water’s taste and safety.  And it is not just Aquafina; many bottled water companies fill their water bottles with unfiltered, fluoride and contaminant containing water.

    WalMart was recently criticized for drawing its bottled water from the Sacramento Municipal Water Supply.  This was especially upsetting to California citizens who are being asked to reduce their water use during a difficult drought.  The bottom line is, our drinking water is a complicated issue that includes a wide range of considerations and questions that you should be asking:

    1. what is the source of my bottled water...is it a public water supply?
    2. is my bottled water being filtered and/or purified?
    3. does my tap water contain fluoride?
    4. does my tap water contain unsafe contaminants?
    5. why does my water taste like chlorine?
    6. why does the fluoride in my water matter; why is fluoride in my water at all?
    7. why should I filter my tap water?
    8. is there a difference between a pitcher with a filter and a bottle with a filter?
    9. does Brita eliminate fluoride?
    10. does Brita eliminate harmful contaminants?
    11. is Brita only a solution for chlorine, taste and odor?
    12. is Brita healthier than tap water?

    These are all questions you should be asking about your tap water AND your bottled water.  



    Phil Lempert, TODAY Show, Food Editor

    On the other hand, consumers have a simple and easy choice to filter and remove chlorine, heavy metals, prescription drugs, hormones, pesticides, etc. from their tap water.  Filtered tap water, particularly when filtered through a Clearly Filtered Pitcher or a Clearly Filtered Bottle, is the highest quality water you can drink, using the highest quality water filtration technology available today.  Clearly Filtered not only changes the taste - often referred to as chlorine, taste and odor (CTO) - but it also removes the elements that contribute to the bad taste and odor - others reduce, Clearly Filtered removes (up to 99.9%).  

    Clearly Filtered Pitchers, as well as Clearly Filtered Bottles, don’t just reduce and/or mask the unhealthy contaminants and additives from tap water - additives that include chlorine and fluoride - Clearly Filtered Pitchers and Clearly Filtered Bottles actually remove these harmful elements.  Imagine a water filter that effectively removes chlorine, pesticides, fluoride, pharmaceutical drugs, hormones, arsenic, lead, and much more.  Imagine a water filter that doesn’t just reduce but rather eliminates.  Clearly Filtered Water is the safest, cleanest, purest, best tasting water on the market, and it is as simple as using a Clearly Filtered Pitcher or a Clearly Filtered Bottle.
Posted by Larry Andreini