Nitrate and nitrite
Middletown Water Department
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.185 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.00700 ppm - 0.374 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.166 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.00600 ppm - 0.337 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.148 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.00400 ppm - 0.309 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.248 ppm | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.520 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.163 ppm | 4 | 2 | ND - 0.373 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.145 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0110 ppm - 0.289 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
EWG Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm
The EWG 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-01 | IOCR 200489002 | 0.00700 ppm |
| 2018-03-01 | NOX 200489001 | 0.00800 ppm |
| 2018-04-16 | IOCR 200492151 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2018-04-16 | NOX 200492152 | 0.374 ppm |
| 2019-05-13 | NOX 200531892 | 0.337 ppm |
| 2019-05-13 | IOCR 200531894 | 0.312 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | NOX 200533082 | 0.00600 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | IOCR 200533084 | 0.00900 ppm |
| 2020-05-06 | NOX 200574724 | 0.00800 ppm |
| 2020-05-06 | IOCR 200574725 | 0.00400 ppm |
| 2020-05-14 | NOX 200575834 | 0.309 ppm |
| 2020-05-14 | IOCR 200575835 | 0.272 ppm |
| 2021-03-30 | NOX 200611336 | 0.465 ppm |
| 2021-03-30 | IOCR 200611337 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2021-03-30 | NOX 200611335 | 0.00800 ppm |
| 2021-04-07 | IOCR 200612106 | ND |
| 2022-05-11 | N300182524 300182530 | ND |
| 2022-05-11 | N300182526 300182543 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2022-05-11 | I300182528 300182551 | ND |
| 2022-05-11 | I300182529 300182556 | 0.373 ppm |
| 2023-06-23 | N300370712 300370714 | 0.0110 ppm |
| 2023-06-23 | N300370718 300370720 | 0.289 ppm |
| 2023-06-23 | I300370724 300370726 | 0.0120 ppm |
| 2023-06-23 | N300370724 300370726 | 0.0120 ppm |
| 2023-06-23 | N300370731 300370733 | 0.273 ppm |
| 2023-06-23 | I300370731 300370733 | 0.273 ppm |