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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Mc Gehee

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.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND30ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-01-27140300027ND
2014-01-27140300028ND
2014-01-27140300026ND
2015-01-28Y150300003ND
2015-01-28Y150300002ND
2015-01-28Y150300001ND
2016-01-26Y160280015ND
2016-01-26Y160280018ND
2016-01-26Y160280019ND
2017-02-20Y170540001ND
2017-02-20Y170540003ND
2017-02-20Y170540002ND
2018-03-20Y180810008ND
2018-03-20Y180810006ND
2018-03-20Y180810007ND
2019-01-23Y190240031ND
2019-01-23Y190240030ND
2019-01-23Y190240032ND