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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Chromium (total)

Howard County Department of Public 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.

 

15

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
20150.199 ppb1510ND - 0.360 ppb
2016N/A00N/A
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
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
2015-01-2820520200010.260 ppb
2015-01-2820520190040.260 ppb
2015-01-2820520200040.200 ppb
2015-01-282052019001ND
2015-04-2320672080010.260 ppb
2015-04-2320672090040.360 ppb
2015-04-2320672080040.290 ppb
2015-04-2320672090010.310 ppb
2015-07-2920863260030.350 ppb
2015-07-2920863260010.350 ppb
2015-07-3020863260080.350 ppb
2015-10-292105018004ND
2015-10-292105017004ND
2015-10-292105018001ND
2015-10-292105017001ND