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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Lake Durango Wa

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.

 

7

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
20150.0200 ppm110.0200 ppm
2016ND10ND
20170.0210 ppm110.0210 ppm
20180.0400 ppm110.0400 ppm
20190.291 ppm110.291 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 Result
2014-09-02ND
2014-09-25ND
2015-12-210.0200 ppm
2016-11-14ND
2017-12-180.0210 ppm
2018-11-280.0400 ppm
2019-06-110.291 ppm