Chromium (total)
Essex Fells Water Department
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 | 2.23 ppb | 3 | 3 | 1.20 ppb - 3.00 ppb |
| 2019 | ND | 8 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | ND | 12 | 0 | ND |
| 2021 | 1.80 ppb | 3 | 3 | 0.742 ppb - 2.58 ppb |
| 2022 | 1.95 ppb | 1 | 1 | 1.95 ppb |
| 2023 | ND | 8 | 0 | ND |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-08-21 | 2333908001 | 2.50 ppb |
| 2018-08-21 | 2333908003 | 3.00 ppb |
| 2018-08-21 | 2333908002 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2021-05-18 | 21051741-001 | 2.08 ppb |
| 2021-05-18 | 21051741-003 | 2.58 ppb |
| 2021-05-18 | 21051741-002 | 0.742 ppb |
| 2022-05-17 | 220516012-001 | 1.95 ppb |