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.
2015-2017:
FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES
FOUND ABOVE LEGAL LIMIT
49
states detected
17,240
utilities detected
160 million
people served
48
states over health guideline
12,942
utilities over health guideline
131 million
people served over health guideline
14
states over legal limit
84
utilities over legal limit
232,000
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
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
States reporting nitrate and nitrite in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 1,012 | 26,550,558 | 1,056 | 30,574,962 | |||
| Texas | 1,534 | 11,683,232 | 2,772 | 17,982,571 | |||
| New York | 370 | 12,950,067 | 453 | 14,690,294 | |||
| Illinois | 762 | 9,484,022 | 845 | 8,515,881 | |||
| Georgia | 550 | 7,032,316 | 625 | 7,666,097 | |||
| Ohio | 460 | 7,142,690 | 557 | 7,618,316 | |||
| Virginia | 550 | 3,894,229 | 775 | 6,381,697 | |||
| Missouri | 500 | 3,749,111 | 1,031 | 5,050,909 | |||
| Louisiana | 151 | 1,614,496 | 683 | 4,402,610 | |||
| Maryland | 127 | 4,296,075 | 132 | 4,305,677 | |||
| New Jersey | 88 | 3,843,629 | 98 | 4,123,995 | |||
| Alabama | 207 | 3,236,924 | 228 | 3,941,546 | |||
| Colorado | 165 | 1,367,151 | 252 | 3,675,324 | |||
| Arizona | 237 | 3,536,300 | 242 | 3,541,991 | |||
| Wisconsin | 472 | 3,201,440 | 613 | 3,537,070 | |||
| Oklahoma | 693 | 3,132,784 | 778 | 3,367,026 | |||
| Washington | 703 | 2,816,962 | 749 | 2,987,777 | |||
| Indiana | 118 | 2,580,470 | 143 | 2,884,885 | |||
| Connecticut | 362 | 1,877,503 | 467 | 2,704,942 | |||
| Arkansas | 309 | 1,930,671 | 407 | 2,651,966 | |||
| Oregon | 125 | 1,213,740 | 173 | 2,600,041 | |||
| Nevada | 147 | 2,570,265 | 160 | 2,573,977 | |||
| Utah | 106 | 1,674,610 | 110 | 1,797,513 | |||
| New Mexico | 357 | 1,557,969 | 399 | 1,634,227 | |||
| Nebraska | 523 | 1,567,241 | 543 | 1,587,820 | |||
| Hawaii | 83 | 1,425,599 | 89 | 1,449,881 | |||
| Mississippi | 150 | 479,053 | 226 | 968,869 | |||
| Delaware | 106 | 857,035 | 120 | 901,441 | |||
| North Carolina | 430 | 266,936 | 461 | 750,767 | |||
| Montana | 530 | 537,366 | 681 | 701,711 | |||
| South Carolina | 113 | 111,166 | 158 | 667,039 | |||
| North Dakota | 103 | 345,075 | 208 | 598,720 | |||
| Tennessee | 12 | 586,038 | 13 | 591,404 | |||
| Alaska | 198 | 409,008 | 250 | 446,393 | |||
| Rhode Island | 58 | 361,295 | 63 | 372,804 | |||
| Wyoming | 165 | 289,279 | 236 | 368,748 | |||
| Maine | 141 | 153,022 | 198 | 262,251 | |||
| Idaho | 67 | 249,154 | 71 | 250,351 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 12 | 197,082 | 7 | 195,307 | |||
| West Virginia | 65 | 182,790 | 60 | 173,617 | |||
| New Hampshire | 55 | 95,644 | 83 | 111,481 | |||
| Kentucky | 10 | 189,546 | 9 | 103,720 | |||
| Florida | 1 | 250 | 2 | 60,388 | |||
| Michigan | 4 | 35,650 | 3 | 35,378 | |||
| Vermont | 6 | 2,820 | 7 | 3,878 | |||
| Iowa | 1 | 3,785 | 1 | 3,785 | |||
| Minnesota | 1 | 3,295 | 1 | 3,295 | |||
| Kansas | 3 | 3,876 | 1 | 1,204 | |||
| South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 1 | 450 | |||
MORE
LESS
Filtering technologies that reduce nitrate and nitrite
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Utilities with the highest amounts of nitrate and nitrite, 2015-2017
ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vineyard Ave. Estates Mutual Water Company | Oxnard, CA | 1 of 1 | 36.0 ppm | 1,200 |
| Eola Water Supply Corporation | Eola, TX | 4 of 4 | 33.2 ppm | 165 |
| Santa Monica | Santa Monica, CA | 1 of 1 | 30.0 ppm | 92,185 |
| City of Weinert | Weinert, TX | 4 of 4 | 22.4 ppm | 208 |
| Diomede Joint Utilities | Little Diomede, AK | 1 of 1 | 21.0 ppm | 184 |
| M & J Trailer Home Community | Sandy, UT | 1 of 1 | 18.5 ppm | 20 |
| Harrison-ray-burbank Water System | Pasco, WA | 1 of 1 | 18.0 ppm | 656 |
| Wheeler Municipal Water System | Wheeler, TX | 4 of 4 | 17.7 ppm | 1,651 |
| Buckingham Water System | Tonasket, WA | 2 of 2 | 17.2 ppm | 32 |
| 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 |
| Lake Success Mobile Lodge | Porterville, CA | 1 of 1 | 15.9 ppm | 40 |
| Sol Y Mar | Pharr, TX | 4 of 4 | 15.8 ppm | 103 |
| Okarche Rural Water District Inc. | Okarche, OK | 12 of 12 | 15.5 ppm | 250 |
| Franklin Water Systems 3 | Dallas, TX | 12 of 12 | 15.4 ppm | 92 |
| Soults Mutual Water Company | Tulare, CA | 1 of 1 | 14.8 ppm | 120 |
| Klondike Independent School District | Lamesa, TX | 3 of 3 | 14.7 ppm | 264 |
| 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 | Amarillo, 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 | 178 |
| South Midland County Water Systems | Kingsland, TX | 1 of 1 | 14.2 ppm | 165 |
| East Park Estates | Atkinson, NE | 3 of 3 | 14.1 ppm | 100 |
| City of Dodson | Dodson, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.1 ppm | 109 |
| Canadian County Rural Water District # 1 | Calumet, OK | 12 of 12 | 14.0 ppm | 750 |
| Monterey Park Tract Community Services District | Ceres, CA | 1 of 1 | 13.8 ppm | 186 |
| Sherwood Estates Manufactured Townhome C | Fair Oaks Ranch, TX | 5 of 5 | 13.8 ppm | 102 |
| Okarche | Okarche, OK | 12 of 12 | 13.6 ppm | 1,110 |
| Lemon Cove Water Company | Lemon Cove, CA | 1 of 1 | 13.4 ppm | 200 |
| City of Byers* | Byers, TX | 4 of 4 | 13.2 ppm | 496 |
| Higuera Apartments | San Luis Obispo, CA | 1 of 1 | 13.0 ppm | 30 |
| Geary* | Geary, OK | 25 of 25 | 12.8 ppm | 1,258 |
| Greenfield Public Works Authority | Greenfield, OK | 25 of 25 | 12.8 ppm | 123 |
| Lake Morena Oak Shores Mw Company | Campo, CA | 5 of 5 | 12.7 ppm | 700 |
| Clove Branch Apartments | Bronx, NY | 1 of 1 | 12.7 ppm | 50 |
| Welch Water Supply Corporation | Welch, TX | 3 of 3 | 12.6 ppm | 315 |
| Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park Midland | Amarillo, TX | 4 of 4 | 12.6 ppm | 234 |
| White Fence Farms Mutual Water Company No. 3 | Quartz Hill, CA | 2 of 2 | 12.6 ppm | 636 |
| Copper Mountain Ranch Cfd | Casa Grande, AZ | 25 of 25 | 12.5 ppm | 909 |
| Morro Bay PW Department - Water Division | Morro Bay, CA | 8 of 8 | 12.4 ppm | 10,327 |
| Lsid-strathmore System | Lindsay, CA | 1 of 1 | 12.0 ppm | 500 |
| City of Corcoran | Corcoran, CA | 1 of 1 | 12.0 ppm | 24,813 |
| Strathmore Public Utility District* | Strathmore, CA | 1 of 1 | 12.0 ppm | 2,150 |
| Devol | Devol, OK | 24 of 24 | 12.0 ppm | 150 |
| Grandfield* | Grandfield, OK | 24 of 24 | 12.0 ppm | 1,110 |
| Cotton County Rural Water District # 1 | Randlett, OK | 24 of 24 | 12.0 ppm | 600 |
| Country Village Mobile Home Estates | Corpus Christi, TX | 4 of 4 | 11.8 ppm | 138 |
| Homestead Water Company | Moriarty, NM | 23 of 23 | 11.8 ppm | 195 |
| Tierra Del Lago | Del Rio, TX | 1 of 1 | 11.8 ppm | 54 |
* 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 |
| Morro Bay PW Department - Water Division | Morro Bay, CA | 8 of 8 | 12.4 ppm | 10,327 |
| City of Corcoran | Corcoran, CA | 1 of 1 | 12.0 ppm | 24,813 |
| Monte Vista Water District* | Montclair, CA | 12 of 12 | 10.8 ppm | 54,460 |
| Florence Water Company | Florence, AZ | 3 of 3 | 9.64 ppm | 14,880 |
| San Fernando Water Department | San Fernando, CA | 6 of 6 | 9.53 ppm | 23,839 |
| Crescenta Valley CWD | La Crescenta, CA | 35 of 35 | 9.28 ppm | 32,000 |
| Chelan County PUD 1 | Wenatchee, WA | 1 of 1 | 9.17 ppm | 13,170 |
| City of Chino Hills* | Chino Hills, CA | 4 of 4 | 7.95 ppm | 75,655 |
| City of Corona* | Corona, CA | 3 of 4 | 7.78 ppm | 155,896 |
| City of Hastings* | Hastings, NE | 95 of 95 | 7.59 ppm | 25,224 |
| Enid* | Enid, OK | 6 of 6 | 7.58 ppm | 49,347 |
| City of Vernon* | Vernon, TX | 4 of 4 | 7.52 ppm | 11,686 |
| Plover Waterworks | Plover, WI | 3 of 3 | 7.50 ppm | 12,420 |
| Johnson Utilities | Phoenix, AZ | 21 of 21 | 7.45 ppm | 62,158 |
| Goodyear Water Department* | Goodyear, AZ | 11 of 11 | 7.28 ppm | 50,001 |
| City of Woodland | Woodland, CA | 2 of 2 | 7.10 ppm | 56,464 |
| City of South Pasadena | South Pasadena, CA | 3 of 3 | 6.90 ppm | 25,899 |
| City of Manteca | Manteca, CA | 10 of 10 | 6.90 ppm | 66,451 |
| City of Ceres | Ceres, CA | 4 of 4 | 6.80 ppm | 42,666 |
| Grover Beach Water Department | Grover Beach, CA | 3 of 3 | 6.73 ppm | 13,156 |
| Decatur* | Decatur, IL | 1 of 1 | 6.70 ppm | 81,860 |
| City of Shafter | Shafter, CA | 1 of 1 | 6.60 ppm | 16,928 |
| City of Alhambra | Alhambra, CA | 4 of 4 | 6.45 ppm | 84,679 |
| Weatherford | Weatherford, OK | 6 of 6 | 6.29 ppm | 10,833 |
| Liberty Water Lpsco* | Avondale, AZ | 50 of 50 | 6.27 ppm | 45,298 |
| Janesville Water Utility | Janesville, WI | 3 of 3 | 6.27 ppm | 62,720 |
| Elk City | Elk City, OK | 3 of 3 | 6.25 ppm | 10,510 |
| City of Mountain View | Mountain View, CA | 1 of 1 | 6.20 ppm | 76,000 |
| City of Scottsbluff* | Scottsbluff, NE | 34 of 34 | 6.20 ppm | 15,030 |
| Arizona Water Company - Pinal Valley* | Phoenix, AZ | 48 of 48 | 6.10 ppm | 88,019 |
| City of Gilroy | Gilroy, CA | 8 of 8 | 6.09 ppm | 39,050 |
| Cal/Am Water Company - San Marino | Rosemead, CA | 28 of 28 | 5.94 ppm | 40,804 |
| Aqua Illinois-Vermilion County* | Danville, IL | 1 of 1 | 5.80 ppm | 38,000 |
| Rehoboth Beach Water Department* | Rehoboth Beach, DE | 133 of 133 | 5.78 ppm | 30,000 |
| Haralson County Water Auth.* | Buchanan, GA | 11 of 15 | 5.75 ppm | 12,220 |
| City of Grandview | Grandview, WA | 236 of 266 | 5.70 ppm | 10,922 |
| California Water Service - Livermore | Livermore, CA | 4 of 4 | 5.65 ppm | 56,700 |
| Glen Cove City | Glen Cove, NY | 70 of 71 | 5.65 ppm | 28,000 |
| Monrovia Water Department | Monrovia, CA | 9 of 9 | 5.52 ppm | 36,590 |
| Espanola Water System* | Espanola, NM | 22 of 22 | 5.49 ppm | 10,495 |
| Glendale Water Department | Glendale, CA | 1 of 1 | 5.40 ppm | 195,799 |
| City of Avondale | Avondale, AZ | 58 of 58 | 5.38 ppm | 83,001 |
| Widefield WSD* | Colorado Springs, CO | 3 of 3 | 5.33 ppm | 19,000 |
| City of Vienna* | Vienna, WV | 2 of 2 | 5.33 ppm | 12,507 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 304 of 307 | 5.27 ppm | 48,000 |
| Newhall CWD-Newhall | Santa Clarita, CA | 6 of 6 | 5.23 ppm | 12,487 |
| Brookwood Comm. Water System | Fayetteville, NC | 133 of 143 | 5.22 ppm | 15,665 |
| Dewey Beach Water Department | Frankford, DE | 1 of 1 | 5.20 ppm | 22,400 |
| Mattoon* | Mattoon, IL | 1 of 1 | 5.20 ppm | 19,000 |
* 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.