Nitrite
Middletown Water Department
Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
2015 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
2016 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
2017 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
2018 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
2019 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1 ppm
The legal limit for nitrite, established in 1991, was based on the rate of conversion of ingested nitrate into nitrite in adults. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to nitrite exposure.
ppm = parts per million
All test results
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2014-06-09 | NOX 200397418 | ND |
2014-06-09 | NOX 200397419 | ND |
2015-05-26 | NOX 200417356 | ND |
2015-05-26 | NOX 200417357 | ND |
2015-09-28 | NOX 200425712 | ND |
2016-06-20 | NOX 200442684 | ND |
2016-06-29 | NOX 200443422 | ND |
2017-05-16 | NOX 200467163 | ND |
2017-05-16 | NOX 200467165 | ND |
2018-03-01 | NOX 200489001 | ND |
2018-04-16 | NOX 200492152 | ND |
2019-05-13 | NOX 200531892 | ND |
2019-05-21 | NOX 200533082 | ND |