Nitrate and nitrite
New Britain 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 | 0.362 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0880 ppm - 0.713 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.102 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0380 ppm - 0.222 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.178 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.0560 ppm - 0.375 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.157 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0360 ppm - 0.446 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.107 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0130 ppm - 0.301 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.0245 ppm | 2 | 1 | ND - 0.0490 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-04-16 | IOCR 200492150 | 0.161 ppm |
| 2018-04-16 | IOCR 200492147 | 0.206 ppm |
| 2018-04-16 | IOCR 200492149 | 0.713 ppm |
| 2018-04-16 | IOCR 200492148 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | NOX 200497534 | 0.0880 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | NOX 200529606 | 0.0460 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | IOCR 200529606B | 0.0460 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | IOCR 200529609E | 0.119 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | NOX 200529609 | 0.119 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | NOX 200529607 | 0.0530 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | IOCR 200529607C | 0.0530 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | IOCR 200529608D | 0.222 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | NOX 200529608 | 0.222 ppm |
| 2019-06-12 | NOX 200535995 | 0.0380 ppm |
| 2020-04-22 | IOCR 200573267 | 0.375 ppm |
| 2020-04-22 | NOX 200573267 | 0.375 ppm |
| 2020-04-22 | IOCR 200573266 | 0.134 ppm |
| 2020-04-22 | IOCR 200573268 | 0.129 ppm |
| 2020-04-22 | NOX 200573268 | 0.129 ppm |
| 2020-04-22 | IOCR 200573265 | 0.134 ppm |
| 2020-04-22 | NOX 200573265 | 0.134 ppm |
| 2020-04-22 | NOX 200573266 | 0.134 ppm |
| 2020-06-11 | NOX 200578892 | 0.0560 ppm |
| 2021-04-20 | IOCR 200613890 | 0.446 ppm |
| 2021-04-20 | IOCR 200613889 | 0.125 ppm |
| 2021-04-20 | IOCR 200613891 | 0.0980 ppm |
| 2021-04-20 | IOCR 200613888 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2021-06-16 | NOX 200621205 | 0.0360 ppm |
| 2022-04-20 | I300172305 300172307 | 0.0130 ppm |
| 2022-04-20 | I300172334 300172336 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2022-04-20 | I300172312 300172314 | 0.301 ppm |
| 2022-04-20 | I300172319 300172326 | 0.0670 ppm |
| 2022-06-28 | N300204043 300204046 | 0.0230 ppm |
| 2023-04-17 | N300334310 300334312 | 0.0490 ppm |
| 2023-06-13 | N300364610 300364612 | ND |