In this episode of AMS Talks, industry consultant and special guest host Nadia Abboud engages in a detailed conversation with Steve Mungari, Business Development Manager for AMS, about the critical issue of hexavalent chromium (Cr6) treatment planning and compliance. The discussion centers around the initiatives Steve is spearheading at AMS to support the nearly 500 sites across California that need to assess, determine, and implement compliance plans to meet the 10 ppb MCL regulation for Cr6. Watch this insightful interview to learn how AMS is positioned to aid utilities in achieving Cr6 compliance.

Cities across California must prioritize the implementation of Cr6 treatment solutions while protecting their investment. Therefore, as cities set out to meet today’s 10-ppb MCL, they must consider the MCL of the future and adopt the right Cr6 treatment approach that can cost-effectively comply with a more stringent regulatory limit. SafeGuard™ H2O provides a solution that ensures safety and confidence for cities. With SafeGuard™ H2O, cities can pursue a water blending strategy where appropriate and be assured of sustainable compliance if the State decides to lower the MCL.

The SafeGuard™ H2O Cr6 removal system from AMS is an affordable and reliable hexavalent chromium (Cr6) remediation solution that complies with California’s new 10-ppb MCL regulation. This NSF-approved Reduction/Coagulation/Filtration system is a designated Best Availability Technology (BAT) for Cr6 removal. With its rapid deployability and competitive financing terms, SafeGuard™ H2O makes demonstrating Cr6 removal easier and more accessible than ever before.

The fully automated SafeGuard™ H2O technology produces a non-toxic stannous reagent onsite and on demand using an in-situ electrolytic generator and a certified precursor. As a cost-effective and efficient solution for municipal and industrial users, SafeGuard™ H2O removes Cr(VI), Fe, H2S, Hg, Pb, and Se from water and wastewater. It also acts as an antibiofilm, antimicrobial reagent for produced water, and as a corrosion inhibitor in distribution networks and cooling systems.

A SafeGuard™ H2O demonstration system with a capacity of 3 gpm (150 mL/minute) was installed onsite for testing at the City of Banning’s Facility Well C2 from June-September 2022. The scope of this demonstration focused on the safe, reliable reduction of Cr6 to Cr3 using SafeGuard H2O electrogenerated stannous reagent.  The demonstration validated the effectiveness of the SafeGuard H2O technology to treat Cr6 and Cr(T) below 10 ppb, granting it conditional acceptance from the California SWRCB Division of Drinking Water for use of the technology by public drinking water systems to treat Cr6 contamination.

A recent demonstration at the City of Banning, California, validated the effectiveness of the AMS SafeGuard™ H2O technology to treat Cr6 and Cr(T) below 10 ppb, granting it conditional acceptance from the California SWRCB Division of Drinking Water for use of the technology by public drinking water systems to treat Cr6 contamination. SafeGuard™ H2O generates a non-toxic stannous reagent on demand via an electrolytic process, offering utilities of all sizes an affordable, effective and sustainable Cr6 remediation solution.

In December 2022, the State of California published its long-awaited recommendation for a regulatory limit for hexavalent chromium (Cr6) in water of 10 ppb. According to the California State Water Resources Control Board, there are more than 2,600 community systems with elevated Cr6 levels serving nearly 13 million people. This proposed regulation unequivocally identifies AMS and its in-situ stannous generation technology, SafeGuard™ H2O, as the best available technology to treat Cr6 and provide safe drinking water to the millions of consumers across California, many of whom live in underserved communities. Watch the latest episode of AMS Talks featuring AMS CEO Rick Bacon and Industry Consultant Nadia Abboud who discuss how this proven and cost-effective solution can treat most of the wells with high Cr6 levels, giving a peace of mind to water utilities impacted by this new regulation.

In Fall 2022, the Joshua Basin Water District demonstrated the SafeGuard™ H2O technology to reduce Cr6 to non-detect levels. SafeGuard H2O proved to be a highly automated process that provided accurate and reliable in-situ stannous reagent generation to reduce Cr6 to below 1 ppb. The capability of SafeGuard H2O to consistently remove Cr6 to non-detect levels creates the opportunity for Joshua Basin Water District and other utilities to blend water from Cr6-contaminated wells and achieve overall system compliance. With SafeGuard H2O, the capital cost of bringing a system into Cr6 compliance can be mitigated by eliminating the need for treatment at all wells.