Nitrate and nitrite
California Water Service (CWS) - Bakersfield
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.
105
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
98
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1.15 ppm | 7 | 6 | ND - 3.00 ppm |
| 2015 | 2.02 ppm | 18 | 17 | ND - 8.00 ppm |
| 2016 | 2.38 ppm | 21 | 21 | 0.220 ppm - 6.50 ppm |
| 2017 | 1.03 ppm | 16 | 16 | 0.180 ppm - 2.40 ppm |
| 2018 | 1.45 ppm | 22 | 20 | ND - 4.10 ppm |
| 2019 | 1.85 ppm | 21 | 21 | 0.200 ppm - 4.80 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-07 | 5806-011-1500 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2014-07-10 | 5806-031-1345 | 1.20 ppm |
| 2014-08-06 | 5806-024-1420 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2014-08-13 | 5806-015-1120 | 1.10 ppm |
| 2014-10-08 | 5806-050-1013 | ND |
| 2014-10-09 | 5806-004-1326 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2014-10-20 | 5806-006-1125 | 1.70 ppm |
| 2015-03-04 | 5806-051-1130 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2015-03-04 | 5806-072-1215 | 1.90 ppm |
| 2015-03-19 | 5806-253-0735 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2015-04-20 | 5806-053-1307 | ND |
| 2015-04-21 | 5806-038-1450 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2015-05-11 | 5806-096-1025 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2015-05-11 | 5806-105-1331 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2015-05-11 | 5806-156-0938 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2015-07-08 | 5806-059-1410 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2015-07-08 | 5806-068-1132 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2015-08-05 | 5806-099-1400 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2015-08-10 | 5806-098-1035 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2015-08-13 | 5806-160-0934 | 1.90 ppm |
| 2015-09-10 | 5806-092-1437 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2015-10-05 | 5806-079-1335 | 8.00 ppm |
| 2015-10-05 | 5806-091-1205 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2015-10-06 | 5806-058-1050 | 1.20 ppm |
| 2015-10-27 | 5806-056-1205 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2016-02-10 | 5806-122-1321 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-03-16 | 5806-253-1025 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | 5806-124-1235 | 1.60 ppm |
| 2016-05-05 | 5806-118-1350 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-05-20 | 5806-110-1350 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2016-05-20 | 5806-126-1250 | 1.40 ppm |
| 2016-06-08 | 5806-148-1230 | 4.00 ppm |
| 2016-06-15 | 5806-131-1045 | 6.50 ppm |
| 2016-06-16 | 5806-055-1025 | 3.10 ppm |
| 2016-06-17 | 5806-151-1015 | 4.30 ppm |
| 2016-07-14 | 5806-109-1200 | 1.40 ppm |
| 2016-08-08 | 5806-149-1240 | 3.60 ppm |
| 2016-08-08 | 5806-154-0945 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2016-08-15 | 5806-125-1013 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2016-08-18 | 5806-069-1051 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2016-08-18 | 5806-150-1153 | 1.90 ppm |
| 2016-09-07 | 5806-119-1120 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2016-09-08 | 5806-052-1120 | 1.10 ppm |
| 2016-09-12 | 5806-143-1015 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2016-09-12 | 5806-146-1055 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2016-10-11 | 5806-129-1519 | 3.70 ppm |
| 2017-01-10 | 5806-002-1025 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2017-01-19 | 5806-026-0949 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2017-03-14 | 5806-253-0850 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2017-03-23 | 5806-021-0904 | 2.00 ppm |
| 2017-04-10 | 5806-009-1125 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-04-19 | 5806-004-1145 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2017-06-12 | 5806-050-1135 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2017-06-19 | 5806-018-0936 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2017-06-20 | 5806-005-1035 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2017-06-20 | 5806-015-1019 | 1.20 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | 5806-006-0947 | 2.10 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | 5806-003-0741 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2017-07-18 | 5806-031-1100 | 1.90 ppm |
| 2017-08-23 | 5806-024-1337 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2017-11-06 | 5806-011-1027 | 1.90 ppm |
| 2017-12-28 | 5806-020-1010 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2018-03-14 | 5806-051-1140 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-03-14 | 5806-072-1250 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2018-03-22 | 5806-253-0800 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2018-04-16 | 5806-156-1057 | 4.10 ppm |
| 2018-04-17 | 5806-053-1400 | ND |
| 2018-04-17 | 5806-105-0930 | ND |
| 2018-04-23 | 5806-094-1107 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2018-04-25 | 5806-096-0930 | 2.00 ppm |
| 2018-04-26 | 5806-038-1145 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2018-07-11 | 5806-068-1118 | 1.90 ppm |
| 2018-07-11 | 5806-092-1400 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2018-07-11 | 5806-106-1431 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2018-07-12 | 5806-056-1444 | 1.60 ppm |
| 2018-07-24 | 5806-059-1414 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2018-07-24 | 5806-091-0850 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2018-08-13 | 5806-099-0950 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2018-08-21 | 5806-098-0942 | 2.80 ppm |
| 2018-08-27 | 5806-160-1221 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2018-09-13 | 5806-058-0955 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2018-09-20 | 5806-069-1025 | 2.80 ppm |
| 2018-10-25 | 5806-058-1144 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2018-11-16 | 5806-048-1128 | 3.30 ppm |
| 2019-01-09 | 5806-107-1109 | 4.80 ppm |
| 2019-02-13 | 5806-122-1021 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2019-03-26 | 5806-253-1055 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 5806-125-0840 | 1.10 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 5806-126-0920 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 5806-118-1330 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | 5806-110-1130 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | 5806-124-0930 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-06-10 | 5806-148-1100 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2019-06-10 | 5806-151-1059 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2019-07-18 | 5806-109-0955 | 1.30 ppm |
| 2019-08-12 | 5806-117-1130 | 2.40 ppm |
| 2019-08-12 | 5806-149-1054 | 3.00 ppm |
| 2019-08-12 | 5806-154-1259 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2019-09-10 | 5806-146-0836 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2019-09-11 | 5806-143-0920 | 1.90 ppm |
| 2019-09-24 | 5806-055-1330 | 2.00 ppm |
| 2019-10-16 | 5806-052-1150 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-10-28 | 5806-150-1135 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2019-11-20 | 5806-108-0835 | 3.40 ppm |
| 2019-12-10 | 5806-119-0845 | 0.370 ppm |