Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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.

 

26

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

13

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.185 ppm440.00700 ppm - 0.374 ppm
20190.166 ppm440.00600 ppm - 0.337 ppm
20200.148 ppm440.00400 ppm - 0.309 ppm
20210.248 ppm43ND - 0.520 ppm
20220.163 ppm42ND - 0.373 ppm
20230.145 ppm660.0110 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
2018-03-01IOCR 2004890020.00700 ppm
2018-03-01NOX 2004890010.00800 ppm
2018-04-16IOCR 2004921510.350 ppm
2018-04-16NOX 2004921520.374 ppm
2019-05-13NOX 2005318920.337 ppm
2019-05-13IOCR 2005318940.312 ppm
2019-05-21NOX 2005330820.00600 ppm
2019-05-21IOCR 2005330840.00900 ppm
2020-05-06NOX 2005747240.00800 ppm
2020-05-06IOCR 2005747250.00400 ppm
2020-05-14NOX 2005758340.309 ppm
2020-05-14IOCR 2005758350.272 ppm
2021-03-30NOX 2006113360.465 ppm
2021-03-30IOCR 2006113370.520 ppm
2021-03-30NOX 2006113350.00800 ppm
2021-04-07IOCR 200612106ND
2022-05-11N300182524 300182530ND
2022-05-11N300182526 3001825430.280 ppm
2022-05-11I300182528 300182551ND
2022-05-11I300182529 3001825560.373 ppm
2023-06-23N300370712 3003707140.0110 ppm
2023-06-23N300370718 3003707200.289 ppm
2023-06-23I300370724 3003707260.0120 ppm
2023-06-23N300370724 3003707260.0120 ppm
2023-06-23N300370731 3003707330.273 ppm
2023-06-23I300370731 3003707330.273 ppm