Tests for Chemicals Find Water Safe

Traces of chromium, arsenic and lead were found in drinking water at hundreds of county buildings and in popular bottled water brands, but not in amounts exceeding government standards, according to test results released Wednesday by Los Angeles County.

The tests conducted by the county’s environmental toxicology bureau were ordered earlier this year by the Board of Supervisors after high levels of chromium 6 were found during an analysis of water from 100 county-owned buildings and wells.

In the more recent testing, county officials analyzed water from 990 sites. At least 40% of those tested positive for chromium, chromium 6, arsenic or lead. Although none exceeded state or federal limits, the results demonstrate the extent of chemical contamination in local water sources, said bureau Director Dr. Wasfy Shindy.

The bureau tested the drinking water sources at county buildings between Nov. 27 and May 2.

County officials also tested 57 bottled-water brands, finding that 38 had traces of contamination, but none exceeded standards.

Supervisor Mike Antonovich responded to the reports Wednesday by introducing two board motions, including one seeking unspecified funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a county drinking-water monitoring program.

The other motion directs county officials to prepare a plan to monitor drinking water at county wells, water at county-owned buildings, and bottled and vending water sold throughout the county.

Federal EPA officials could not be reached for comment. But a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health Services, which sets California’s standards for drinking water, said water that meets state and federal requirements is safe to drink.

In his news conference, however, Antonovich noted that, given the varying government standards, it was “up to the individual” to decide if the water was safe. With regard to the heavy metal chromium 6, he said: “Everything is within the standard today, but the standard could change tomorrow.”

Chromium 6, a chemical used in paint pigments, chrome plating and other manufacturing processes, has been detected in water systems statewide, including industrial areas of Los Angeles and the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.

It also was at the center of the famous pollution case in Hinkley, Calif., on which the movie “Erin Brockovich” was based.

Scientists are divided over whether the chemical is hazardous when ingested in water, and there is considerable disagreement among agencies about how to regulate it.