Nitrate and nitrite
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
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.
51
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
35
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 | 1.84 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.430 ppm - 3.69 ppm |
| 2015 | 1.83 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.550 ppm - 3.25 ppm |
| 2016 | 1.62 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.470 ppm - 3.77 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.253 ppm | 9 | 3 | ND - 1.04 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.655 ppm | 8 | 4 | ND - 1.58 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.148 ppm | 8 | 2 | ND - 0.730 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-26 | 1200-133-1215 | 1.63 ppm |
| 2014-02-26 | 1200-011-1215 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2014-05-14 | 1200-133-1105 | 3.68 ppm |
| 2014-05-14 | 1200-011-1115 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-08-12 | 1200-011-1030 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2014-08-20 | 1200-133-0900 | 3.47 ppm |
| 2014-11-12 | 1200-011-1240 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-11-18 | 1200-133-0935 | 3.69 ppm |
| 2015-02-11 | 1200-133-0825 | 2.81 ppm |
| 2015-02-19 | 1200-011-0845 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2015-05-19 | 1200-011-0900 | 1.01 ppm |
| 2015-05-19 | 1200-133-1100 | 3.25 ppm |
| 2015-08-04 | 1200-011-1040 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2015-08-04 | 1200-133-0645 | 2.83 ppm |
| 2015-10-20 | 1200-205-1155 | 1.76 ppm |
| 2015-11-05 | 1200-133-0755 | 2.69 ppm |
| 2015-11-05 | 1200-011-1005 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-02-09 | 1200-133-0930 | 2.09 ppm |
| 2016-02-24 | 1200-011-1215 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2016-05-25 | 1200-011-1135 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-05-25 | 1200-133-1210 | 2.81 ppm |
| 2016-07-21 | 1200-205-1225 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2016-08-17 | 1200-011-1010 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2016-08-23 | 1200-133-1005 | 2.63 ppm |
| 2016-11-21 | 1200-133-1115 | 3.77 ppm |
| 2016-11-29 | 1200-011-0845 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2017-02-21 | 1200-011-1140 | ND |
| 2017-02-21 | 1200-133-1210 | 1.04 ppm |
| 2017-05-09 | 1200-011-0940 | ND |
| 2017-05-17 | 1200-133-0941 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | 1200-205-1000 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2017-08-01 | 1200-133-0940 | ND |
| 2017-08-21 | 1200-011-1010 | ND |
| 2017-11-20 | 1200-133-1040 | ND |
| 2017-11-20 | 1200-011-1000 | ND |
| 2018-02-06 | 1200-011-1040 | ND |
| 2018-02-07 | 1200-133-0930 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2018-05-08 | 1200-133-0736 | 1.46 ppm |
| 2018-05-23 | 1200-011-0925 | ND |
| 2018-08-16 | 1200-011-0940 | ND |
| 2018-08-16 | 1200-133-0747 | 1.58 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | 1200-011-0842 | ND |
| 2018-11-15 | 1200-133-0917 | 1.20 ppm |
| 2019-02-11 | 1200-133-1011 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2019-02-13 | 1200-011-1115 | ND |
| 2019-05-21 | 1200-011-1012 | ND |
| 2019-05-22 | 1200-133-0945 | ND |
| 2019-08-12 | 1200-011-1028 | ND |
| 2019-08-13 | 1200-133-0907 | ND |
| 2019-11-07 | 1200-133-0852 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2019-11-07 | 1200-011-0958 | ND |