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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Chromium (total)

San Francisco City Water System

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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20130.0413 ppb162ND - 0.350 ppb
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND10ND
2017ND10ND
2018ND10ND
2019N/A00N/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
2013-01-31201302010154AMND
2013-01-31201302010153AMND
2013-02-21201302220322AMND
2013-02-21201302220323AMND
2013-04-29201304300206AMND
2013-04-29201304300195AMND
2013-06-06201306070202AMND
2013-06-06201306070190AMND
2013-07-30201307310249AMND
2013-07-30201307310290AMND
2013-08-12201308130156AM0.350 ppb
2013-08-12201308130152AM0.310 ppb
2013-10-07201310080353AMND
2013-10-07201310080350AMND
2013-10-10201310110406AMND
2013-10-10201310110456AMND
2016-06-149553-001-0920ND
2017-06-199553-001-1015ND
2018-06-189553-001-1025ND