Chromium (total)
Salem 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.
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 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2021 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2022 | 0.400 ppb | 3 | 1 | ND - 1.20 ppb |
| 2023 | ND | 3 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-24 | 201801250239-I | ND |
| 2019-02-07 | 201902080338-I | ND |
| 2020-02-03 | 202002040118-I | ND |
| 2020-05-18 | 202005190119-I | ND |
| 2021-02-16 | 202102170345-I | ND |
| 2021-05-10 | 202105110678-I | ND |
| 2022-02-16 | 202202180003-I | ND |
| 2022-06-23 | 380-6930-1-I | 1.20 ppb |
| 2022-10-12 | 380-24325-1-I | ND |
| 2023-01-04 | 380-33407-1-I | ND |
| 2023-04-27 | 380-45315-1-I | ND |
| 2023-10-31 | 380-69271-1-I | ND |