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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Metropolitan District Commission

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.

 

42

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

3

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
20140.0660 ppm72ND - 0.243 ppm
2015N/A00N/A
20160.0429 ppm74ND - 0.150 ppm
20170.0271 ppm144ND - 0.110 ppm
20180.0186 ppm72ND - 0.0700 ppm
20190.0429 ppm75ND - 0.130 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
2014-07-02AC72402GE0.243 ppm
2014-07-02AC72403GE0.219 ppm
2014-07-02AC72401GEND
2014-09-17AC77043GEND
2014-09-17AC77044GEND
2014-09-17AC77045GEND
2014-09-17AC77046GEND
2016-08-18AD38613GEND
2016-08-18AD38612GEND
2016-08-18AD38616GE0.01000 ppm
2016-08-18AD38617GEND
2016-08-18AD38611GE0.130 ppm
2016-08-18AD38609GE0.01000 ppm
2016-08-18AD38610GE0.150 ppm
2017-05-22AD63226GEND
2017-05-23AD63364GE0.110 ppm
2017-05-23AD63365GE0.1000 ppm
2017-05-23AD63393GEND
2017-05-23AD63394GEND
2017-05-23AD63371GEND
2017-05-23AD63341GEND
2017-08-14AD78146GE0.0900 ppm
2017-08-14AD78150GEND
2017-08-14AD78149GEND
2017-08-14AD78154GEND
2017-08-14AD78148GE0.0800 ppm
2017-08-14AD78147GEND
2017-08-14AD78153GEND
2018-07-18AE01637GEND
2018-07-18AE01636GEND
2018-07-18AE01641GEND
2018-07-18AE01640GEND
2018-07-18AE01632GE0.0600 ppm
2018-07-18AE01630GEND
2018-07-18AE01631GE0.0700 ppm
2019-12-03CE707400.0600 ppm
2019-12-03CE707390.0200 ppm
2019-12-03CE707410.0700 ppm
2019-12-03CE707330.0200 ppm
2019-12-03CE707340.130 ppm
2019-12-03CE70736ND
2019-12-03CE70735ND