Nitrate and nitrite

Quint-mar Water Authority

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.0183 ppm	6	6	0.0140 ppm - 0.0250 ppm
2015	0.0144 ppm	7	6	ND - 0.0230 ppm
2016	N/A	0	0	N/A
2017	N/A	0	0	N/A
2018	0.0165 ppm	6	6	0.01000 ppm - 0.0220 ppm
2019	0.0190 ppm	7	7	0.0120 ppm - 0.0230 ppm

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
2014-02-13	AA88462	0.0210 ppm
2014-02-13	AA88463	0.0190 ppm
2014-02-13	AA88464	0.0160 ppm
2014-02-13	AA88466	0.0150 ppm
2014-02-13	AA88465	0.0140 ppm
2014-02-13	AA88467	0.0250 ppm
2015-09-24	AB08021	0.0230 ppm
2015-09-24	AB08017	0.0190 ppm
2015-09-24	AB08018	0.0170 ppm
2015-09-24	AB08014	0.0170 ppm
2015-09-24	AB08020	0.0140 ppm
2015-09-24	AB08019	0.0110 ppm
2015-09-24	AB08105	ND
2018-11-15	AB31866	0.0220 ppm
2018-11-15	AB31868	0.01000 ppm
2018-11-15	AB31869	0.0150 ppm
2018-11-15	AB31865	0.0170 ppm
2018-11-15	AB31867	0.0170 ppm
2018-11-15	AB31870	0.0180 ppm
2019-04-17	AB34281	0.0230 ppm
2019-04-17	AB34280	0.0230 ppm
2019-04-17	AB34283	0.0220 ppm
2019-04-17	AB34282	0.0210 ppm
2019-04-17	AB34286	0.0160 ppm
2019-04-17	AB34284	0.0160 ppm
2019-04-17	AB34285	0.0120 ppm