Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Nitrate and nitrite

MS State University

Nitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, septic tanks and urban runoff. These contaminants can cause oxygen deprivation for infants and increase the risk of cancer. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Click here to read more about nitrate.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.14 ppm

The health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppm

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-05-05140506-075NIND
2014-05-05140506-072NIND
2014-05-05140506-071NIND
2014-05-05140506-059NIND
2015-04-20150421-134NIND
2015-04-20150421-133NIND
2015-04-20150421-132NIND
2015-04-20150421-131NIND
2016-11-30161201-027NIND
2016-11-30161201-033NIND
2016-11-30161201-031NIND
2016-11-30161201-029NIND
2017-03-14170315-009NIND
2017-03-14170315-008NIND
2017-03-14170315-007NIND
2017-03-14170315-006NIND
2018-03-13180314-048NIND
2018-03-13180314-043NIND
2018-03-13180314-042NIND
2018-03-13180314-041NIND
2019-04-10190411-021NIND
2019-04-10190411-024NIND
2019-04-10190411-023NIND
2019-04-10190411-022NIND