Chromium (total)

Des Moines 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
2014	0.717 ppb	12	8	ND - 2.10 ppb
2015	0.758 ppb	12	8	ND - 2.60 ppb
2016	N/A	0	0	N/A
2017	N/A	0	0	N/A
2018	ND	3	0	ND
2019	ND	1	0	ND

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
2014-07-30	180959	0.300 ppb
2014-07-30	180953	1.60 ppb
2014-07-30	180952	1.90 ppb
2014-07-30	180957	ND
2014-07-30	180960	ND
2014-07-30	180955	ND
2014-10-08	196220	0.200 ppb
2014-10-08	196219	0.300 ppb
2014-10-08	196217	ND
2014-10-08	196223	2.10 ppb
2014-10-08	196216	0.200 ppb
2014-10-08	196222	2.00 ppb
2015-01-26	211477	0.200 ppb
2015-01-26	211483	2.30 ppb
2015-01-26	211497	2.50 ppb
2015-01-26	211479	ND
2015-01-26	211478	ND
2015-01-27	211685	ND
2015-04-01	226433	0.400 ppb
2015-04-01	226530	2.60 ppb
2015-04-01	226531	0.500 ppb
2015-04-01	226434	0.200 ppb
2015-04-01	226435	ND
2015-04-01	226431	0.400 ppb
2018-07-16	OE683858	ND
2018-07-16	OE683857	ND
2018-10-08	OE724008	ND
2019-07-16	OE835739	ND