Nitrate and nitrite

City of Cleveland

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	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	N/A
2014	ND	4	ND
2015	ND	4	ND
2016	ND	4	ND
2017	ND	4	ND
2018	ND	4	ND
2019	ND	4	ND

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
2014-01-22	140123-035NI	ND
2014-01-22	140123-034NI	ND
2014-01-22	140123-033NI	ND
2014-01-29	140130-024NI	ND
2015-02-04	150205-081NI	ND
2015-02-04	150205-075NI	ND
2015-02-04	150205-074NI	ND
2015-02-04	150205-073NI	ND
2016-03-29	160330-052NI	ND
2016-03-29	160330-062NI	ND
2016-03-29	160330-058NI	ND
2016-03-29	160330-056NI	ND
2017-01-18	170119-035NI	ND
2017-01-18	170119-034NI	ND
2017-01-18	170119-033NI	ND
2017-01-18	170119-032NI	ND
2018-01-30	180131-069NI	ND
2018-01-30	180131-068NI	ND
2018-01-30	180131-063NI	ND
2018-01-30	180131-062NI	ND
2019-01-30	190131-023NI	ND
2019-01-30	190131-039NI	ND
2019-01-30	190131-027NI	ND
2019-01-30	190131-026NI	ND