Chromium (total)

Purdue University Water Works

Chromium is a naturally occurring metal, but industrial uses can elevate its levels in water. One form, hexavalent chromium, causes cancer. Total chromium is not a good indicator of the amount of hexavalent chromium in drinking water.

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	0.140 ppb	7	4	ND - 0.340 ppb
2014	1.61 ppb	13	10	ND - 4.24 ppb
2015	N/A	0	0	N/A
2016	N/A	0	0	N/A
2017	2.68 ppb	6	6	2.20 ppb - 3.00 ppb
2018	N/A	0	0	N/A
2019	N/A	0	0	N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 100 ppb

The legal limit for total chromium, established in 1991, was based on a 1958 toxicity study in laboratory animals, and applies to both the less-toxic trivalent chromium and the more-toxic hexavalent chromium forms of this compound. This limit does not protect against the risk of cancer from ingestion of hexavalent chromium.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2013-11-13	35115836003AM	0.210 ppb
2013-11-13	35115836005AM	ND
2013-11-13	35115836013AM	0.340 ppb
2013-11-13	35115836001AM	0.220 ppb
2013-11-13	35115836011AM	0.210 ppb
2013-11-13	35115836009AM	ND
2013-11-13	35115836007AM	ND
2014-05-28	35139772013AM	0.240 ppb
2014-05-28	35139772011AM	0.220 ppb
2014-05-28	35139772007AM	0.230 ppb
2014-05-28	35139772009AM	ND
2014-06-04	507947IOC-2014	3.33 ppb
2014-06-04	508055IOC-2014	2.57 ppb
2014-06-04	508054IOC-2014	3.90 ppb
2014-06-04	508053IOC-2014	4.24 ppb
2014-06-04	507948IOC-2014	2.70 ppb
2014-06-04	507946IOC-2014	3.22 ppb
2014-10-23	35160819001AM	ND
2014-10-23	35160819005AM	ND
2014-10-23	35160819003AM	0.230 ppb
2017-12-07	622468	2.20 ppb
2017-12-07	622467	2.90 ppb
2017-12-07	622466	3.00 ppb
2017-12-07	622465	2.20 ppb
2017-12-07	622464	2.90 ppb
2017-12-07	622463	2.90 ppb