But last week, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment released a public health goal of just .06 parts per billion for the contaminant, which is significantly lower than the current state standard and one that would likely require extensive treatment.
State law currently limits the contaminant to 6 to 50 parts per billion.
A public health goal is not a regulatory standard, but it is the first step in the state Department Public Health’s process of establishing a state drinking water standard for chromium 6.
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment will accept public comment on the goal through Oct. 19, and is working to have it finalized within about two years, said Sam Delson, the agency’s deputy director for external and legislative affairs.
The state Department of Public Health will then use those comments when setting the new limits.
Officials stress the new regulations are still years away, but utilities are still preparing for the harsher standard, which will likely mean treatment of some kind will be necessary, especially with potential increases in the amount of chromium as the underground plume migrates toward Glendale and Burbank.
“It’s safe to say we will need to have some kind of treatment done,” said Peter Kavounas, assistant general manager of Glendale Water & Power.
In July, the utility began construction on two testing and treatment facilities, which are part of an ongoing $5-million, multi-jurisdictional research project studying how the cancer-causing element can be removed from contaminated ground water.
