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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Chromium (total)

Howard Waterworks

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.

 

13

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.198 ppb108ND - 0.307 ppb
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND10ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND20ND

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
2014-01-14766422-106310.212 ppb
2014-01-14766420-105540.220 ppb
2014-03-3144007724/14-0084ND
2014-04-0144007788/14-0085ND
2014-04-23782139-112490.242 ppb
2014-04-23782137-112340.274 ppb
2014-07-15803717-118330.307 ppb
2014-07-15803715-118330.275 ppb
2014-10-07824715-126700.226 ppb
2014-10-07824717-126700.222 ppb
2017-02-2247006049ND
2019-10-1649029917ND
2019-10-1649029918ND