Nitrite

Ponderosa Basin Mutual Water Company

Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer.

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	N/A	0	N/A
2015	ND	6	ND
2016	ND	1	ND
2017	ND	7	ND
2018	ND	6	ND
2019	ND	6	ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1 ppm

The legal limit for nitrite, established in 1991, was based on the rate of conversion of ingested nitrate into nitrite in adults. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to nitrite exposure.

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2015-10-12	5802-007-1044	ND
2015-10-12	5802-012-1112	ND
2015-10-12	5802-014-1130	ND
2015-10-12	5802-011-1020	ND
2015-10-12	5802-010-0951	ND
2015-10-12	5802-009-0930	ND
2016-04-04	5802-004-0900	ND
2017-11-27	5802-009-0935	ND
2017-11-27	5802-010-1005	ND
2017-11-27	5802-014-0850	ND
2017-11-27	5802-011-1035	ND
2017-11-27	5802-007-0810	ND
2017-11-27	5802-012-0825	ND
2017-12-18	5802-007-0920	ND
2018-10-30	5802-009-0815	ND
2018-10-30	5802-014-0915	ND
2018-10-30	5802-007-0800	ND
2018-10-30	5802-010-0830	ND
2018-10-30	5802-011-0845	ND
2018-10-30	5802-012-0900	ND
2019-10-22	5802-014-1430	ND
2019-10-22	5802-012-1400	ND
2019-10-22	5802-011-1330	ND
2019-10-22	5802-010-1300	ND
2019-10-22	5802-009-1230	ND
2019-10-22	5802-007-1200	ND