Chromium (total)
Decatur Waterworks
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
| 2021 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2022 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 2023 | 1.35 ppb | 2 | 2 | 1.20 ppb - 1.50 ppb |
ppb = parts per billion
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-31 | Y182130106 | ND |
| 2018-07-31 | Y182130105 | ND |
| 2018-11-14 | Y183190019 | ND |
| 2019-02-12 | Y190440010 | ND |
| 2019-02-12 | Y190440001 | ND |
| 2019-05-15 | Y191360038 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | Y192270026 | ND |
| 2022-02-09 | Y220400036 | ND |