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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Lake Forest Water Coop

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-08-25153088001ND
2014-08-25153089001ND
2015-09-25220157001ND
2015-09-25220156001ND
2016-09-21279111001ND
2016-09-21279112001ND
2017-06-05319228001ND
2017-06-05319227001ND
2018-05-14381626001ND
2018-05-14381629001ND
2019-09-03466965001ND
2019-09-03466966001ND