Nitrite

Auburn Water System

Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.00143 ppm	7	1	ND - 0.01000 ppm
2015	ND	7	0	ND
2016	ND	7	0	ND
2017	0.00357 ppm	7	1	ND - 0.0250 ppm
2018	0.00357 ppm	7	1	ND - 0.0250 ppm
2019	ND	7	0	ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1 ppm

The legal limit for nitrite, established in 1991, was based on the rate of conversion of ingested nitrate into nitrite in adults. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to nitrite exposure.

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date	Result
2014-02-26	0.01000 ppm
2014-03-04	ND
2014-03-04	ND
2014-03-04	ND
2014-03-04	ND
2014-03-04	ND
2014-03-04	ND
2015-05-04	ND
2015-05-04	ND
2015-05-04	ND
2015-05-04	ND
2015-05-04	ND
2015-05-04	ND
2015-05-04	ND
2016-04-04	ND
2016-04-04	ND
2016-04-04	ND
2016-04-04	ND
2016-04-04	ND
2016-04-04	ND
2016-04-04	ND
2017-04-04	ND
2017-04-04	ND
2017-04-04	ND
2017-04-04	ND
2017-04-04	ND
2017-04-04	0.0250 ppm
2017-04-04	ND
2018-04-11	ND
2018-04-11	ND
2018-04-11	ND
2018-04-11	ND
2018-04-11	ND
2018-04-11	ND
2018-04-11	0.0250 ppm
2019-02-06	ND
2019-02-06	ND
2019-02-06	ND
2019-02-06	ND
2019-02-06	ND
2019-02-06	ND
2019-02-06	ND