Nitrite
Palm Beach County Water 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.
24
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.0125 ppm | 4 | 2 | ND - 0.0400 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.00425 ppm | 4 | 1 | ND - 0.0170 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.00625 ppm | 4 | 1 | ND - 0.0250 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.00500 ppm | 4 | 1 | ND - 0.0200 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.01000 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.00800 ppm - 0.0120 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.0103 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.01000 ppm - 0.0110 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014-05-15 | ND |
| 2014-05-20 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2014-05-22 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2014-05-29 | ND |
| 2015-06-16 | ND |
| 2015-06-16 | 0.0170 ppm |
| 2015-06-17 | ND |
| 2015-06-22 | ND |
| 2016-05-04 | ND |
| 2016-05-11 | ND |
| 2016-05-17 | ND |
| 2016-05-24 | 0.0250 ppm |
| 2017-05-03 | ND |
| 2017-05-10 | ND |
| 2017-05-17 | ND |
| 2017-05-30 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 0.00800 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 0.0120 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | 0.0110 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 0.01000 ppm |