CHROMIUM

A measure of a common industrial heavy metal in northeast Ohio. Chromium is not found naturally in the rocks of this area, but it is very common as an industrial metal, notably in the electroplating and steel industries. Hexavalent chromium is quite toxic to most forms of life.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING TEST KIT:

1. Fill a viewing tube to the 5 ml. mark with river water.

2. Add the contents of one Hach ChromaVer 3 powder pillow, stopper, and shake for 30 seconds to mix. The sample will turn purple if hexavalent chromium is present. Allow at least 5 minutes for color to develop fully, but no longer than 20 minutes. Place it in the right opening in the color comparator.

3. Take a second tube and fill it full of river water. Stopper it, and place it in the left opening of the color comparator.

4. Hold the color comparator up to a bright light, and rotate the color wheel until the color of the wheel matches the color of the sample. Chromium concentration in mg/l can be read directly at the window at the bottom of the color comparator.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

Is your chromium level above 0.5 ppm? If so, you have a problem

WHY YOU HAVE TOO MUCH:

• Is the area industrial? If so, do any of the industries use chromium as part of their processes?

• Is there chromium in the rocks of the area?

• Is it carried in by sewer systems?

• Do any of the rural land uses lead to chromium being washed into the river?

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH CHROMIUM IN THE WATER?

• To the river, to the plants and animals living there, or to the river's state of nutrition?

• To the lake, as the body of water that receives all of the river water?

• To people in and around the watershed?

*IF YOU HAVE A CHROMIUM (OR ANY OTHER HEAVY METAL) PROBLEM, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT? TO WHOM DO YOU TALK?

*Click here to return to the Water Quality Index Menu

*Click here to return to the NORP Main Menu