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The following information summarizes the content of an article published in the Groundwater Resources Association's Winter 2002 Hydro Visions newsletter*. The focus of the article was an assessment of potential sources of perchlorate contamination other than solid rocket fuel.
Additional sources of perchlorate contamination include:
Match Factories
Tanneries
Aluminum Refining
Electroplating
Landfills
Explosive Bolts
Large quantities of unburned highway flares and unburned matches have been confiscated during raids on Methamphetamine labs. Red phosphorous is used as a catalyst for the production of methamphetamine. Red phosphorous is derived by dissolving highway flares, striker caps, or the striker pad from match books.
Presented at February 10, 2003 Assembly informational hearing held in Thousand Oaks.
Chromium is a benign element found in nature. It is commonly used in manufacturing activities such as steel hardening, aerospace manufacturing, making of paint pigments, and electroplating. When chromium is used in industrial processes, it’s often converted to chromium VI.
Chromium may be present in water as chromium III and chromium VI. Chromium III is an essential nutrient at trace concentrations. Chromium VI can be present in many forms, some of which are carcinogenic when inhaled at high concentrations. At this time, tests do not identify the form of chromium VI that may be present in drinking water. Scientific studies performed to date have not shown evidence of illness associated with drinking water which contains chromium VI.
A recent movie has focused massive public attention on the potential dangers of chromium VI. The movie was based on events that took place in the town of Hinkley, California, where an extraordinarily high concentration of chromium VI was found in the drinking water. However, there is a lack of factual evidence to substantiate the claim that a multitude of illnesses in the town were linked to chromium VI.
There is an unfortunate perception that this is a new problem. In fact, chromium health effects have been studied for years with a focus on the inhalation of airborne chromium VI particles—the primary source of risk. The first health effects study on chromium dates back to 1948, and studies continue through to the present day.
Yes. Calleguas water meets all state and federal standards, maximum contaminant levels, public health goals, and health protective levels for total chromium and chromium VI.
Calleguas’ source is surface water from the State Water Project, which contains concentrations of chromium VI which are barely measurable with the latest laboratory technology. None of Calleguas’ water supply comes from groundwater basins, which are the sources most vulnerable to chromium VI contamination through industrial pollution.
Metropolitan and Calleguas conducted special sampling for chromium VI. Average levels of chromium VI detected are 0.08 parts per billion (ppb), and ranged from 0.03 to 0.11 ppb. These samples were analyzed with a reporting limit of 0.01 ppb. These concentrations are considered safe according to state and federal drinking water standards.
Based on the California Department of Health Services’ recommended reporting level of 1 ppb, chromium VI would have been reported as “None Detected” for all Calleguas and Metropolitan samples.
Calleguas also monitors its sources annually for total chromium with no detections.
Chromium occurrence is regulated through a federal maximum contaminant level of 100 ppb, a state maximum contaminant level of 50 ppb, a state public health goal for total chromium of 2.5 ppb, and a state “health protective level” of 0.2 ppb for chromium VI.
Calleguas concerns itself first and foremost with the protection of public health. We support state and federal regulators in their efforts to set water quality standards for drinking water based on good science with consideration for available technology and costs.