Nitrate and nitrite
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2015:
44
states detected
12,148
utilities detected
114 million
people served
31
states over health guideline
624
utilities over health guideline
2.1 million
people served over health guideline
11
states over legal limit
66
utilities over legal limit
127,000
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for nitrate and nitrite
Cancer
Harm to fetal growth and child development
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 5 ppm
The health guideline of 5 ppm for nitrate and nitrite was defined by EWG based on studies by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and other independent researchers. This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
ppm = parts per million.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppm
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppm = parts per million.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)10 ppm
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
ppm = parts per million.
States reporting nitrate and nitrite in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 109 | 84,072 | 2,850 | 18,128,786 | |||
| New York | 13 | 80,290 | 314 | 14,029,537 | |||
| Illinois | 98 | 302,684 | 789 | 8,671,218 | |||
| Ohio | 10 | 12,011 | 452 | 7,094,993 | |||
| Georgia | 11 | 1,347 | 548 | 6,489,661 | |||
| Virginia | 12 | 3,695 | 708 | 6,030,420 | |||
| Missouri | 4 | 1,142 | 922 | 4,780,775 | |||
| Arizona | 35 | 631,462 | 159 | 4,629,244 | |||
| Maryland | 13 | 16,073 | 85 | 4,385,638 | |||
| Alabama | 2 | 8,331 | 275 | 4,269,595 | |||
| California | 9 | 563,790 | 73 | 3,169,693 | |||
| Oklahoma | 139 | 188,694 | 762 | 3,135,100 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 357 | 2,824,203 | |||
| Colorado | 2 | 237 | 164 | 2,784,817 | |||
| New Jersey | 3 | 447 | 91 | 2,549,961 | |||
| Nevada | 4 | 1,713 | 91 | 2,499,360 | |||
| Indiana | 1 | 96 | 76 | 2,192,626 | |||
| Washington | 20 | 39,523 | 351 | 2,142,546 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 323 | 2,102,338 | |||
| Oregon | 2 | 212 | 79 | 1,982,340 | |||
| Utah | 1 | 495 | 81 | 1,522,888 | |||
| Wisconsin | 5 | 21,225 | 65 | 1,512,818 | |||
| New Mexico | 12 | 1,787 | 326 | 1,475,002 | |||
| Delaware | 36 | 84,711 | 106 | 874,146 | |||
| Mississippi | 0 | 0 | 160 | 708,439 | |||
| Montana | 19 | 3,286 | 633 | 682,489 | |||
| North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 176 | 530,336 | |||
| Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 9 | 440,525 | |||
| Alaska | 20 | 4,676 | 211 | 415,540 | |||
| North Carolina | 26 | 20,355 | 406 | 368,238 | |||
| Rhode Island | 2 | 482 | 40 | 363,186 | |||
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 3 | 334,456 | |||
| Wyoming | 9 | 7,257 | 201 | 260,834 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 63 | 179,480 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 57 | 103,290 | |||
| West Virginia | 2 | 13,925 | 23 | 99,847 | |||
| Maine | 2 | 165 | 91 | 98,419 | |||
| Idaho | 1 | 55 | 14 | 80,982 | |||
| Kentucky | 2 | 7,974 | 4 | 56,285 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33,816 | |||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11,876 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7,149 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 4 | 809 | |||
| South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 1 | 450 | |||
Utilities with the highest amounts of nitrate and nitrite, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | Santa Monica, CA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppm | 92,185 |
| Eola Water Supply Corporation | Eola, TX | 2 of 2 | 29.4 ppm | 113 |
| City of Weinert | Weinert, TX | 4 of 4 | 22.4 ppm | 208 |
| Golf Mobile City | Kailua-kona, OR | 1 of 1 | 19.1 ppm | 32 |
| Wheeler Municipal Water System | Wheeler, TX | 4 of 4 | 17.7 ppm | 1,651 |
| Thunderbird Farms Domestic Water Improvement District | Maricopa, AZ | 1 of 1 | 17.0 ppm | 1,600 |
| Turkey Municipal Water System* | Turkey, TX | 3 of 3 | 17.0 ppm | 421 |
| Sol Y Mar | Pharr, TX | 4 of 4 | 15.8 ppm | 103 |
| Okarche Rural Water District Inc. | Okarche, OK | 4 of 4 | 15.7 ppm | 250 |
| Franklin Water Systems 3 | Southlake, TX | 12 of 12 | 15.4 ppm | 92 |
| Blue Mound | Blue Mound, IL | 5 of 5 | 15.0 ppm | 1,300 |
| Klondike Independent School District | Lamesa, TX | 3 of 3 | 14.7 ppm | 231 |
| Northside Water Supply Corporation | Vernon, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.7 ppm | 225 |
| Grassland Water Supply Corporation | Tahoka, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.4 ppm | 55 |
| Greenwood Terrace Mobile Home Subdivision | Las Cruces, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.4 ppm | 120 |
| Rra Guthrie Dumont Water System | Wichita Falls, TX | 2 of 2 | 14.3 ppm | 402 |
| Rra Hinds Wildcat Water System | Wichita Falls, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.3 ppm | 141 |
| South Midland County Water Systems | Midland, TX | 1 of 1 | 14.2 ppm | 165 |
| City of Dodson | Dodson, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.1 ppm | 109 |
| Canadian County Rural Water District # 1 | Calumet, OK | 4 of 4 | 14.0 ppm | 750 |
| Geary* | Geary, OK | 9 of 9 | 13.7 ppm | 1,258 |
| Sherwood Estates Manufactured Townhome C | Midland, TX | 4 of 4 | 13.6 ppm | 150 |
| Okarche | Okarche, OK | 4 of 4 | 13.3 ppm | 1,110 |
| City of Byers* | Byers, TX | 4 of 4 | 13.2 ppm | 496 |
| Welch Water Supply Corporation | Welch, TX | 3 of 3 | 12.6 ppm | 315 |
| Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park Midland | Las Cruces, TX | 4 of 4 | 12.6 ppm | 234 |
| Willow | Willow, OK | 3 of 3 | 12.4 ppm | 114 |
| Marion Water Co. Inc. | Buckley, WA | 4 of 4 | 12.4 ppm | 716 |
| Copper Mountain Ranch Cfd | Casa Grande, AZ | 9 of 9 | 12.1 ppm | 909 |
| White Horse Ranch Owners Association | Prescott, AZ | 2 of 2 | 12.1 ppm | 292 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Nitrate and nitrite, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | Santa Monica, CA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppm | 92,185 |
| Chelan County PUD 1 | Wenatchee, WA | 1 of 1 | 9.17 ppm | 13,170 |
| Goodyear Water Department* | Goodyear, AZ | 4 of 4 | 7.73 ppm | 34,000 |
| Enid* | Enid, OK | 2 of 2 | 7.65 ppm | 47,950 |
| City of Vernon* | Vernon, TX | 4 of 4 | 7.52 ppm | 11,686 |
| Elk City | Elk City, OK | 1 of 1 | 6.96 ppm | 10,510 |
| Decatur* | Decatur, IL | 1 of 1 | 6.70 ppm | 81,860 |
| City of Shafter | Shafter, CA | 1 of 1 | 6.60 ppm | 16,928 |
| Liberty Water Lpsco* | Avondale, AZ | 21 of 21 | 6.35 ppm | 45,298 |
| Town of Gilbert* | Gilbert, AZ | 2 of 2 | 6.30 ppm | 210,000 |
| Weatherford | Weatherford, OK | 2 of 2 | 6.29 ppm | 10,833 |
| Arizona Water Company - Pinal Valley* | Phoenix, AZ | 14 of 14 | 6.19 ppm | 88,019 |
| City of Grandview | Grandview, WA | 65 of 68 | 6.11 ppm | 10,922 |
| City of Tustin | Tustin, CA | 2 of 2 | 6.11 ppm | 69,100 |
| Rehoboth Beach Water Department* | Rehoboth, DE | 41 of 41 | 6.08 ppm | 30,000 |
| Manhasset Lakeville WD* | Great Neck, NY | 5 of 5 | 5.92 ppm | 44,600 |
| Taylorville* | Taylorville, IL | 14 of 14 | 5.91 ppm | 15,427 |
| Aqua Illinois-Vermilion County* | Danville, IL | 1 of 1 | 5.80 ppm | 38,000 |
| Westbury WD | Westbury, NY | 10 of 11 | 5.61 ppm | 20,500 |
| Johnson Utilities | Scottsdale, AZ | 6 of 6 | 5.57 ppm | 62,158 |
| City of Avondale | Avondale, AZ | 21 of 21 | 5.55 ppm | 79,335 |
| City of Vienna* | Vienna, WV | 2 of 2 | 5.33 ppm | 12,507 |
| City of Modesto | Modesto, CA | 663 of 668 | 5.31 ppm | 212,000 |
| City of Garden Grove | Garden Grove, CA | 3 of 3 | 5.28 ppm | 170,883 |
| Mattoon* | Mattoon, IL | 1 of 1 | 5.20 ppm | 19,000 |
| City of Burkburnett | Burkburnett, TX | 4 of 4 | 5.04 ppm | 10,927 |
| Brookwood Comm. Water System* | Fayetteville, NC | 40 of 45 | 5.03 ppm | 15,665 |
| Epcor Water - Paradise Valley/Scottsdale | Youngtown, AZ | 1 of 1 | 4.95 ppm | 11,600 |
| City of Scottsdale* | Scottsdale, AZ | 1 of 1 | 4.90 ppm | 230,000 |
| South Adams County Water and Sanitation District* | Commerce City, CO | 10 of 10 | 4.88 ppm | 51,465 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Nitrate and nitrite, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.