Chromium (total)

Amherst DPW Water Division

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	0.0296 ppb	28	3	ND - 0.360 ppb
2014	0.270 ppb	10	2	ND - 2.50 ppb
2015	ND	2	0	ND
2016	ND	2	0	ND
2017	ND	6	0	ND
2018	ND	1	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	Result
2013-03-25	ND
2013-03-25	ND
2013-03-25	ND
2013-03-25	ND
2013-03-26	ND
2013-03-26	0.360 ppb
2013-03-26	ND
2013-03-26	ND
2013-06-17	ND
2013-06-17	ND
2013-06-17	ND
2013-06-17	ND
2013-08-13	ND
2013-08-13	ND
2013-08-14	0.220 ppb
2013-08-14	0.250 ppb
2013-09-16	ND
2013-09-16	ND
2013-09-16	ND
2013-09-16	ND
2013-09-17	ND
2013-09-17	ND
2013-09-17	ND
2013-09-17	ND
2013-12-02	ND
2013-12-02	ND
2013-12-02	ND
2013-12-02	ND
2014-06-03	ND
2014-06-03	ND
2014-06-10	2.50 ppb
2014-06-10	ND
2014-06-10	ND
2014-07-29	ND
2014-07-29	0.200 ppb
2014-08-26	ND
2014-08-26	ND
2014-10-15	ND
2015-06-04	ND
2015-06-04	ND
2016-06-16	ND
2016-06-16	ND
2017-05-23	ND
2017-05-23	ND
2017-05-23	ND
2017-05-23	ND
2017-05-23	ND
2017-11-07	ND
2018-05-01	ND
2019-05-21	ND