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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Bethany Bay Ocean View

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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

19

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20142.70 ppm53ND - 5.90 ppm
20153.36 ppm53ND - 5.80 ppm
20163.50 ppm54ND - 5.80 ppm
20172.80 ppm53ND - 5.40 ppm
20182.33 ppm53ND - 5.37 ppm
20192.62 ppm53ND - 5.44 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
2014-03-27S4791591.70 ppm
2014-03-27S4791585.90 ppm
2014-04-16S4791835.90 ppm
2014-06-05S479143ND
2014-06-30S504520ND
2015-02-06S6019575.80 ppm
2015-02-06S6019565.80 ppm
2015-02-06S6019555.20 ppm
2015-06-03S612430ND
2015-07-20S614610ND
2016-02-11S6591322.00 ppm
2016-02-11S6250005.80 ppm
2016-05-24S1676665.50 ppm
2016-05-24S1676654.20 ppm
2016-08-31S670446ND
2017-04-18S7308015.40 ppm
2017-04-18S7308004.20 ppm
2017-07-17S7307904.40 ppm
2017-07-28S730862ND
2017-07-28S730793ND
2018-07-10S8119594.49 ppm
2018-07-10S811958ND
2018-07-10S811956ND
2018-08-01S8121205.37 ppm
2018-08-01S8121181.80 ppm
2019-06-17S848031ND
2019-06-17S8480305.44 ppm
2019-07-02S8171403.97 ppm
2019-07-02S817142ND
2019-07-02S8171413.69 ppm