Supervisors Order Chromium 6 Cleanup

Concerned about test results showing high levels of chromium 6 in north Los Angeles County water wells, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ordered officials to devise a plan to remove the contamination.

The motion by Supervisor Mike Antonovich, approved unanimously, gives the Public Works Department a month to report on ways to remove chromium 6 and other chemical contaminants from the wells and the potential impact, including costs.

Tests of 44 county-owned wells found that 32 had chromium 6, with concentrations of up to 17.6 parts per billion.

Although that falls within current state standards, the concentrations are up to 90 times the level of chromium 6 that has been recommended by a state agency for optimum safety.

County public works officials have said levels of chromium 6 in tap water could be lower than the amounts found in the wells, because the well water may be blended with other water sources.

The tests found 14 wells that registered above 10 ppb for chromium 6, all of them in the Antelope Valley.

The 32 wells that had detectable levels serve about 44,000 homes and businesses, county officials said, and are operated by the county Public Works Department.

County officials asked for the tests last month after samples of drinking water at 110 county buildings showed levels of up to almost 9 ppb. Tests are continuing at other county buildings and wells.

California has no specific standard for chromium 6, but the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Agency has called for a goal of 2.5 ppb for total chromium, which officials say would reduce chromium 6 concentrations to 0.2 ppb. The current standard for total chromium is 50 ppb.