Nitrate and nitrite

Magnolia Waterworks

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

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	0.107 ppm	6	4	ND - 0.180 ppm
2015	0.0600 ppm	3	1	ND - 0.180 ppm
2016	0.0867 ppm	3	2	ND - 0.150 ppm
2017	0.0980 ppm	5	3	ND - 0.200 ppm
2018	0.0650 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.160 ppm
2019	0.125 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.320 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
2014-01-06	140080027	0.120 ppm
2014-04-01	140930002	0.180 ppm
2014-04-01	140930001	0.160 ppm
2014-09-09	Y142540013	ND
2014-09-10	Y142540015	0.180 ppm
2014-09-10	Y142540014	ND
2015-01-05	Y150080020	ND
2015-04-06	Y151000011	ND
2015-04-06	Y151000010	0.180 ppm
2016-01-05	Y160070001	0.150 ppm
2016-04-05	Y160980046	0.110 ppm
2016-05-24	Y161470033	ND
2017-01-03	Y170050001	ND
2017-04-04	Y170960003	ND
2017-04-04	Y170960004	0.140 ppm
2017-04-17	Y171090001	0.150 ppm
2017-08-15	Y172290001	0.200 ppm
2018-01-02	Y180040037	0.1000 ppm
2018-04-03	Y180950033	ND
2018-04-03	Y180950034	ND
2018-08-28	Y182420001	0.160 ppm
2019-01-07	Y190110006	0.180 ppm
2019-04-01	Y190940041	ND
2019-04-01	Y190940040	ND
2019-09-11	Y192550012	0.320 ppm