FloWater CEO Warns Chromium-6 in California Tap Water Highlights Broader U.S. Drinking Water Crisis

Denver, CO — March XX, 2026 — Recent news reports that tap water in parts of Santa Cruz County, California, contains elevated levels of chromium-6, a toxic heavy metal linked to cancer, should serve as a wake-up call about the fragile state of municipal drinking water systems across the United States, according to FloWater Co-Founder and CEO Rich Razgaitis.

FloWater is a company on a mission to restore trust in America’s drinking water through its network of premium Refill Stations that transform tap water through Advanced Purification into clean, great-tasting drinking water without single-use plastic. Today, FloWater Refill Stations are used in workplaces, schools, gyms, hotels, and public spaces across North America.

Recent testing in Santa Cruz County found that more than 20 wells contained chromium-6 levels above California’s new limit of 10 parts per billion. Chromium-6 – sometimes referred to as the “Erin Brockovich chemical” – has been linked to cancer and other serious health concerns. While local officials say the contamination likely comes from naturally occurring geology rather than industrial pollution, the news underscores growing concerns about drinking water quality nationwide.

“Parents shouldn’t have to pack water for their kids because they don’t trust the school drinking fountain,” said Razgaitis. “What’s happening in California reflects a much bigger national challenge. Aging infrastructure, emerging contaminants we’re only beginning to understand, and inconsistent testing across states are eroding confidence in tap water.”

When trust in tap water declines, many Americans turn to bottled water. However, that shift creates a new set of environmental and health challenges.

According to environmental research cited by Roundup.org, Americans discard more than 60 million plastic water bottles every day. Only about 23% are recycled, meaning tens of millions end up in landfills, rivers, and oceans.

“People buy bottled water because they want peace of mind,” Razgaitis said. “But we’ve replaced one problem with another – a flood of plastic waste and the emissions that come from producing and shipping billions of bottles every year.”

Plastic bottles can take hundreds of years to break down. As they degrade, they release microplastics, which researchers have now found in oceans, soil, wildlife, food systems, and even the human body.

FloWater was founded to provide a better solution: transforming tap water through Advanced Purification into trusted, great-tasting drinking water delivered through convenient Refill Stations.

FloWater’s proprietary purification process removes contaminants while restoring beneficial minerals and electrolytes, creating purified drinking water designed for both trust and taste. Today, FloWater Refill Stations serve millions of people daily across workplaces, campuses, fitness centers, hotels, and community spaces across the United States.

Since its founding, FloWater estimates its Refill Stations have helped prevent the use of more than 1.5 billion single-use plastic water bottles.

“Clean drinking water should be something people can trust,” said Razgaitis. “The long-term solution isn’t wrapping water in plastic. It’s investing in better infrastructure, better purification, and making it easy for people to refill with confidence.”

Razgaitis added that solving America’s drinking water challenges will require collaboration across sectors.

Businesses can help by installing modern Refill Stations that provide purified drinking water without plastic waste. Policymakers can support stronger water standards and infrastructure investments. Communities and individuals can advocate for safer, more sustainable hydration options in schools, gyms, and workplaces.

“Everyone deserves access to water they trust,” Razgaitis said. “If we work together to improve water systems and move away from single-use plastic, we can protect both public health and the planet for future generations.”