Chromium-6 Contamination

Chromium-6 in New York Drinking Water

Ranked by max chromium-6 detected (µg/L) · UCMR 3 data (2013–2015) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

225

Cities Tested

225

Detected

100%

% Detected

0.49 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

594

Health Violations

Analysis

Chromium-6 in New York: what the data shows

New York has 225 cities with chromium-6 data from the EPA's UCMR 3 program (2013–2015). Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) was detected in 225 of those cities. There is currently no federal MCL for chromium-6 — California's 10 µg/L limit is used as a reference. The state average max detected level is 0.49 µg/L. Chromium-6 occurs naturally in some groundwater aquifers but also from industrial discharge, particularly from steel processing, chrome plating, and leather tanning. It is distinct from trivalent chromium (Cr III), which is an essential nutrient at low doses. The National Toxicology Program and IARC classify chromium-6 as a carcinogen via inhalation; the evidence for drinking water carcinogenicity is strong but regulatory action at the federal level remains pending as of 2026. Reverse osmosis systems effectively remove chromium-6 to near-undetectable levels.

Comparison

Cities exceeding No federal MCL (CA: 10 µg/L)

New York

100%

225 of 225 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

3934 of 3934 cities

City Map

Chromium-6 data across New York

Each dot is a city with UCMR 3 chromium-6 data. Detected cities are shown; there is no federal MCL — California's 10 µg/L limit is used as a reference. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by chromium-6 level in New York

Highest Chromium-6 levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All New York cities ranked by chromium-6 level

#	City	Level	Detected?	Violations	Grade
1	Huntington (T)	7.30 µg/L	Detected	11	D
2	Brookhaven (T)	5.59 µg/L	Detected	3	C
3	East Hampton (T)	5.59 µg/L	Detected	3	A-
4	Islip (T)	5.59 µg/L	Detected	7	B-
5	Smithtown (T)	5.59 µg/L	Detected	5	B+
6	Southampton (T)	5.59 µg/L	Detected	5	B
7	Southold (T)	5.59 µg/L	Detected	11	B-
8	Riverhead (T)	5.59 µg/L	Detected	5	C+
9	Babylon (T)	5.59 µg/L	Detected	6	B+
10	North Hempstead (T)	3.90 µg/L	Detected	9	F
11	Roslyn (V)	3.80 µg/L	Detected	1	A
12	Clarkstown (T)	3.40 µg/L	Detected	11	B-
13	Oyster Bay (T)	1.79 µg/L	Detected	14	B-
14	Mill Neck (V)	1.79 µg/L	Detected	2	A
15	Mineola (V)	1.60 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
16	Great Neck Estates (V)	1.19 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
17	Great Neck Plaza (V)	1.19 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
18	Great Neck (V)	1.19 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
19	Kensington (V)	1.19 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
20	Kings Point (V)	1.19 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
21	Saddle Rock (V)	1.19 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
22	Thomaston (V)	1.19 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
23	Hempstead (T)	1.10 µg/L	Detected	14	D
24	New Hyde Park (V)	1.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
25	Westbury (V)	0.89 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
26	Sea Cliff (V)	0.76 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
27	Garden City (V)	0.75 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
28	Glen Cove (C)	0.67 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
29	Mount Pleasant (T)	0.62 µg/L	Detected	36	C
30	Wappinger (T)	0.58 µg/L	Detected	9	D
31	Malone (V)	0.53 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
32	Clifton Park (T)	0.44 µg/L	Detected	4	D
33	Bethlehem (T)	0.44 µg/L	Detected	12	A-
34	Wallkill (T)	0.43 µg/L	Detected	23	F
35	Cohoes (C)	0.40 µg/L	Detected	5	B+
36	Stewart Manor (V)	0.39 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
37	Canajoharie (V)	0.36 µg/L	Detected	3	A
38	Fulton (C)	0.34 µg/L	Detected	2	A
39	Batavia (C)	0.34 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
40	East Fishkill (T)	0.33 µg/L	Detected	21	F
41	Hempstead (V)	0.31 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
42	Johnson City (V)	0.31 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
43	Beacon (C)	0.31 µg/L	Detected	4	A-
44	New Windsor (T)	0.30 µg/L	Detected	14	D+
45	Leray (T)	0.29 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
46	Newburgh (T)	0.29 µg/L	Detected	50	F
47	Lynbrook (V)	0.28 µg/L	Detected	3	B
48	Binghamton (C)	0.28 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
49	Cortland (C)	0.27 µg/L	Detected	5	A
50	Rensselaer (C)	0.26 µg/L	Detected	6	B+
51	Rochester (C)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	3	B
52	Brighton (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	5	C+
53	Chili (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
54	Churchville (V)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
55	Clarkson (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
56	East Rochester (X)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
57	Fairport (V)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
58	Gates (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
59	Greece (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
60	Hamlin (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
61	Henrietta (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
62	Honeoye Falls (V)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
63	Irondequoit (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	C+
64	Kendall (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
65	Mendon (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
66	Ogden (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
67	Parma (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
68	Penfield (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
69	Perinton (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
70	Pittsford (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
71	Pittsford (V)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
72	Riga (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
73	Rush (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	2	B
74	Scottsville (V)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
75	Spencerport (V)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
76	Sweden (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
77	Victor (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	3	B
78	Webster (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
79	Wheatland (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	1	B
80	Batavia (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	2	B+
81	Victor (V)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	3	B
82	Oakfield (T)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
83	Oakfield (V)	0.24 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
84	Kenmore (V)	0.22 µg/L	Detected	0	A
85	Warwick (T)	0.20 µg/L	Detected	58	D+
86	Tuxedo (T)	0.20 µg/L	Detected	12	B+
87	Brockport (V)	0.19 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
88	Monroe (T)	0.19 µg/L	Detected	10	F
89	Olean (C)	0.18 µg/L	Detected	1	B
90	Tonawanda (C)	0.17 µg/L	Detected	0	A
91	Vestal (T)	0.17 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
92	Port Chester (V)	0.16 µg/L	Detected	0	A
93	Rye Brook (V)	0.16 µg/L	Detected	0	A
94	Rye (T)	0.16 µg/L	Detected	0	A
95	Chester (V)	0.16 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
96	Kiryas Joel (V)	0.15 µg/L	Detected	3	D+
97	Halfmoon (T)	0.15 µg/L	Detected	3	A
98	Buffalo (C)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
99	Syracuse (C)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	29	C+
100	Amherst (T)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A
101	Cheektowaga (T)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A
102	Clarence (T)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A
103	Concord (T)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	8	B-
104	Depew (V)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A
105	Evans (T)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A
106	Lackawanna (C)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A
107	Lancaster (V)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A
108	Sloan (V)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A
109	White Plains (C)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
110	Elma (T)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
111	Malta (T)	0.14 µg/L	Detected	3	D
112	Rotterdam (T)	0.13 µg/L	Detected	2	A
113	Lockport (T)	0.13 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
114	Glens Falls (C)	0.13 µg/L	Detected	17	B+
115	Corning (C)	0.13 µg/L	Detected	2	B-
116	Ogdensburg (C)	0.13 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
117	Highland Falls (V)	0.13 µg/L	Detected	3	A-
118	Colonie (T)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	1	A+
119	Schenectady (C)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
120	Niagara Falls (C)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
121	Poughkeepsie (T)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
122	Massena (V)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
123	De Witt (T)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	6	A-
124	Clay (T)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
125	Horseheads (V)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	6	D+
126	Ramapo (T)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	19	C+
127	Lyndonville (V)	0.12 µg/L	Detected	1	A
128	Peekskill (C)	0.11 µg/L	Detected	15	A-
129	Lewiston (V)	0.11 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
130	Oneida (C)	0.11 µg/L	Detected	3	A
131	Oneida Castle (V)	0.11 µg/L	Detected	3	A
132	Mount Kisco (V)	0.11 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
133	Brownville (T)	0.11 µg/L	Detected	3	A-
134	Watertown (C)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	19	B
135	Albany (C)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
136	Poughkeepsie (C)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	2	A
137	Ossining (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	6	C
138	Oswego (C)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	4	A
139	Lockport (C)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	0	A
140	Alabama (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
141	Bergen (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
142	Bergen (V)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
143	Bethany (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
144	Byron (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
145	Corfu (V)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
146	Darien (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
147	Le Roy (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
148	Leroy (V)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
149	Pavilion (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
150	Pembroke (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A
151	Stafford (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
152	Ontario (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	4	A+
153	Elmsford (V)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
154	Plattsburgh (C)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
155	New Castle (T)	0.10 µg/L	Detected	3	B
156	Mamaroneck	0.09 µg/L	Detected	5	B+
157	Grand Island (T)	0.09 µg/L	Detected	2	C+
158	Glenville (T)	0.09 µg/L	Detected	0	A
159	Wellsville (V)	0.09 µg/L	Detected	0	C+
160	Greenwood Lake (V)	0.09 µg/L	Detected	9	A-
161	Cortlandt (T)	0.09 µg/L	Detected	11	B+
162	Wheatfield (T)	0.09 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
163	North Tonawanda (C)	0.08 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
164	Newburgh (C)	0.08 µg/L	Detected	17	A-
165	Rockville Center (V)	0.08 µg/L	Detected	5	A
166	Gloversville (C)	0.08 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
167	Angola (V)	0.08 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
168	Jamestown (C)	0.08 µg/L	Detected	1	A
169	Yonkers (C)	0.08 µg/L	Detected	2	B+
170	Dunkirk (C)	0.07 µg/L	Detected	1	C
171	Fallsburg (T)	0.07 µg/L	Detected	2	F
172	Woodbury (T)	0.07 µg/L	Detected	18	C+
173	Nyack (V)	0.07 µg/L	Detected	3	B
174	South Nyack (V)	0.07 µg/L	Detected	3	B
175	Scarsdale	0.07 µg/L	Detected	0	A
176	Yorktown (T)	0.07 µg/L	Detected	13	B
177	Tarrytown (V)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	3	B+
178	Massapequa Park (V)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	0	A
179	Guilderland (T)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	18	A-
180	Fredonia (V)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	0	D
181	Moreau (T)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	4	A-
182	Philipstown (T)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	5	B-
183	Heuvelton (V)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	0	A
184	Elmira (C)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	5	B+
185	Elmira Heights (V)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	5	B+
186	Elmira (T)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	5	B+
187	Southport (T)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	5	B+
188	New York (C)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	11	A-
189	Kingston (C)	0.06 µg/L	Detected	8	A-
190	Ardsley (V)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
191	Bronxville (V)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
192	Dobbs Ferry (V)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
193	Eastchester (T)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
194	Hastings-On-Hudson (V)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
195	New Rochelle (C)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
196	Pelham Manor (V)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
197	Pelham (V)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
198	Tuckahoe (V)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
199	Mount Vernon (C)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
200	Endicott (V)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
201	Oneonta (T)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	1	C
202	Oneonta (C)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
203	Auburn (C)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
204	Greenburgh (T)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	40	B
205	Geneva (C)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	2	A
206	Long Beach (C)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	3	A
207	Attica (T)	0.05 µg/L	Detected	8	C+
208	Deerfield (T)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B-
209	Marcy (T)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
210	New Hartford (T)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
211	New Hartford (V)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
212	New York Mills (V)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
213	Oriskany (V)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
214	Utica (C)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
215	Whitesboro (V)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
216	Whitestown (T)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
217	Yorkville (V)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	25	B+
218	Rome (C)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	20	B+
219	Saratoga Sprngs (C)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	3	A-
220	Westmoreland (T)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	27	B-
221	Ithaca (C)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	11	B+
222	Amsterdam (C)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	33	B-
223	Canandaigua (C)	0.04 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
224	Queensbury (T)	0.03 µg/L	Detected	2	F
225	Worcester (T)	0.03 µg/L	Detected	1	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about chromium-6 in New York

Is chromium-6 in New York tap water dangerous?

Chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) is a potential human carcinogen. There is currently no federal MCL — California's 10 µg/L limit is the most protective US standard. 225 cities in New York had detectable chromium-6 in UCMR 3 testing (2013–2015). Reverse osmosis is the most effective removal method.

Where does chromium-6 come from in New York water?

Chromium-6 enters water supplies from two main sources: natural weathering of chromium-containing rock formations (especially in the Southwest and parts of the Midwest) and industrial discharge from steel mills, chrome plating, and coal ash sites. Groundwater systems are more commonly affected by natural sources, while surface water systems near industrial areas face pollution-related risks.

How can I filter chromium-6 from my water in New York?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective, removing over 95% of chromium-6. Some high-quality activated alumina or anion exchange filters also provide significant reduction. Standard carbon filters and pitcher filters are generally NOT effective against chromium-6. Look for filters certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI 58 (for RO systems).

More contaminants