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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Mineral Springs

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
20180.0433 ppm31ND - 0.130 ppm
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
2014-03-11140720044ND
2014-04-28141200002ND
2014-04-28141200006ND
2015-03-24Y150850008ND
2015-04-27Y151200001ND
2015-04-27Y151200002ND
2016-01-25Y160280007ND
2016-06-13Y161680006ND
2016-06-13Y161680007ND
2017-01-23Y170260011ND
2017-05-15Y171380002ND
2017-05-15Y171380003ND
2018-02-13Y180460001ND
2018-05-15Y1813700010.130 ppm
2018-05-15Y181370002ND
2019-01-15Y190180002ND
2019-04-16Y191080015ND
2019-04-16Y191080014ND