Many NH Cities, Towns Have Drinking Water Toxin Made Famous in 'Erin Brokovich': Study

A new report shows many drinking water supplies in New Hampshire have the cancer-causing toxin chromium-6, which became a household name after Julia Roberts’ 2000 megahit based on the real-life environmentalist Erin Brockovich’s investigation of groundwater in Hinkley, California.

Chromium-6 has been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and liver problems, but the measurements in New Hampshire communities fall well short of the levels in Hinkley — about 1.19 parts per billion, with a peak of 3.09 ppb — according to the report from the Environmental Working Group.

Furthermore, none of the towns on the list come close to exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum of 100 parts per billion of total chromium. The highest result in New Hampshire came from two water sources in Portsmouth at .46 parts per billion.

The Environmental Working Group identified towns that exceed 0.02 parts per billion in tap water, a level that California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment set as a public health goal in 2011. The goal was set after Brockovich was successful in building a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company of California in 1993 that blamed the company for contaminating local water.

Officials in California believe even that level of the contaminant can be harmful and pose a cancer threat — not just for people who drink the water, but also bathe in it or have any contact.

Before you run out to buy a water filter, it is important to understand the context. At California's recommended level of chromium-6, "one out of 1 million people is likely to get cancer after drinking that water for 70 years," reports The Verge.

The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment, analyzed federal data from nationwide drinking water tests showing that the compound contaminates water supplies for more than 200 million Americans in all 50 states.

"Yet federal regulations are stalled by a chemical industry challenge that could mean no national regulation of a chemical state scientists in California and elsewhere say causes cancer when ingested at even extraordinarily low levels," according to the report.

Here is the list of cities, water commissions and countywide agencies that were tested for chromium 6, and the findings:

(You can also click here for a full map with testing averages and further information)

Belknap County

Laconia Waterworks - Population Served: 15,500

Carroll County

Lower Bartlett Water Pct. - Population Served: 3,570

Chesire County

Keene Water Department - Population Served: 25,000
N. Walpole Village District/Low - Population Served: 600

Grafton County

Lebanon Water Department - Population Served: 10,050
Littleton Water & Light Dept. - Population Served: 6,010

Hillsborough County

Hudson Water Department - Population Served: 16,100
Manchester Waterworks - Population Served: 133,000
Merrimack Village District - Population Served: 25,000
Pennichuck Waterworks - Population Served: 87,682

Merrimack County

Concord Water Department - Population Served: 44,000

Rockingham County

Aquarion Water - NH - Population Served: 23,000
Derry Water Department - Population Served: 15,145
Exeter Water Department - Population Served: 11,000
Portsmouth Waterworks - Population Served: 33,000
Salem Water Department - Population Served: 18,000
Seabrook Water Department - Population Served: 14,000

Strafford County

Dover Water Department - Population Served: 28,000
Rochester Water Department - Population Served: 25,000
Somersworth Waterworks - Population Served: 12,000
UNH - Durham Water System - Population Served: 16,000

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