Nitrite
Lake Worth Utilities
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.
16
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
0
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.0546 ppm | 10 | 8 | ND - 0.160 ppm |
| 2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2016 | 0.0320 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.0320 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.0330 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.0330 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.0290 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.0290 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.0257 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.0250 ppm - 0.0260 ppm |
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 | Result |
|---|---|
| 2014-02-11 | 0.0460 ppm |
| 2014-02-11 | 0.0980 ppm |
| 2014-02-11 | ND |
| 2014-02-11 | ND |
| 2014-02-11 | 0.0510 ppm |
| 2014-03-04 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2014-03-04 | 0.0451 ppm |
| 2014-03-04 | 0.0810 ppm |
| 2014-04-01 | 0.0460 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 0.0190 ppm |
| 2016-04-11 | 0.0320 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 0.0330 ppm |
| 2018-02-15 | 0.0290 ppm |
| 2019-02-11 | 0.0250 ppm |
| 2019-02-15 | 0.0260 ppm |
| 2019-02-15 | 0.0260 ppm |