Chromium (total) in drinking water
Also called Chromium, Chromium-6, Hexavalent chromium, Chromium-3, Trivalent chromium, Cr.
- Legal limit
- 100 ppb
- Health goal
- 100 ppb
Values in parts per billion (ppb). Comes from the source.
Where the rules stand
Final MCL and health goal of 100 ppb (0.1 mg/L) for total chromium. EPA says this covers all forms, including chromium-6. There is no separate federal MCL for hexavalent chromium.
What EPA says about health
EPA lists allergic dermatitis, a skin reaction, from long-term exposure above the MCL.
Where it comes from
EPA lists discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 58
Claim to look for: Chromium (Hexavalent) Reduction
Also listed as: Chromium (Trivalent) Reduction
NSF listing wording. WQA wording: "Hexavalent Chromium."
NSF listing wording. WQA wording: "Trivalent Chromium."
- NSF/ANSI 53
Claim to look for: Chromium Reduction
Also listed as: Chromium (Trivalent) Reduction
NSF listing wording. The listing does not say which form of chromium.
NSF listing wording. NSF's claims guide also links pitchers to a 53 hexavalent chromium claim, but that search returned no products on Oct. 4, 2026.
Filters with that claim on a certifier’s listing
- Maker’s page
AquaTru Classic (AT2000)
Countertop reverse osmosis
- Maker’s page
Sources
- National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, U.S. EPA. Checked Oct. 4, 2026.
- Chromium in Drinking Water, U.S. EPA. Checked Oct. 4, 2026.
- Search for NSF Certified Drinking Water Treatment Units (standards and reduction claims lists), NSF. Checked Oct. 4, 2026.
- Contaminant Reduction Claims Guide, NSF. Checked Oct. 4, 2026.
- Find WQA Certified Products (Gold Seal listings by standard and claim), Water Quality Association. Checked Oct. 4, 2026.
- SDWA Dataset Download Summary (codes from SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES.csv, 2026 Q2 extract), U.S. EPA ECHO. Checked Oct. 4, 2026.