Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Nitrate and nitrite

Norphlet

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
20180.180 ppm220.170 ppm - 0.190 ppm
2019ND20ND

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
2014-01-13140170004ND
2014-01-13140160048ND
2015-03-09Y150710005ND
2015-03-09Y150710006ND
2016-01-12Y160150045ND
2016-02-10Y160420007ND
2017-02-13Y170470010ND
2017-02-13Y170470016ND
2018-02-26Y1806000100.190 ppm
2018-02-26Y1806000160.170 ppm
2019-02-19Y190520023ND
2019-02-19Y190520042ND