Chromium (total)
Altoona 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.
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 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2020 | 0.150 ppb | 6 | 1 | ND - 0.900 ppb |
| 2021 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2022 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2023 | 1.49 ppb | 8 | 3 | ND - 8.40 ppb |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-06-16 | 1193790 | ND |
| 2020-06-16 | 1193786 | ND |
| 2020-06-16 | 1193788 | ND |
| 2020-06-16 | 1193789 | ND |
| 2020-06-16 | 1193787 | ND |
| 2020-06-16 | 1193791 | 0.900 ppb |
| 2023-01-25 | CB00795-01 | 8.40 ppb |
| 2023-01-26 | CB00861-01 | 2.20 ppb |
| 2023-07-31 | CB08782-04 | ND |
| 2023-07-31 | CB08782-07 | ND |
| 2023-07-31 | CB08782-01 | ND |
| 2023-07-31 | CB08782-10 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2023-08-01 | CB08877-04 | ND |
| 2023-08-01 | CB08877-01 | ND |