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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Denali - Rock Creek Hq.

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.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

6

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.559 ppm110.559 ppm
20150.530 ppm110.530 ppm
20160.552 ppm110.552 ppm
20170.547 ppm110.547 ppm
20180.572 ppm110.572 ppm
20190.568 ppm110.568 ppm

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
2014-07-15IN*F1407148-01C0.559 ppm
2015-06-08IN*F1506079-01A0.530 ppm
2016-06-14IN*F1606146-01A0.552 ppm
2017-06-16IN*F1706137-01A0.547 ppm
2018-07-18IN*F1807095-01A0.572 ppm
2019-07-23ARS6-19-00717-000.568 ppm