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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Dalton Utilities

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.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

10

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.220 ppm220.220 ppm
20150.127 ppm31ND - 0.380 ppm
20160.137 ppm31ND - 0.410 ppm
20170.227 ppm32ND - 0.410 ppm
20180.357 ppm330.270 ppm - 0.450 ppm
20190.137 ppm31ND - 0.410 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
2014-08-12AI492350.220 ppm
2014-08-12AI492340.220 ppm
2015-09-28AI912680.380 ppm
2015-09-28AI91267ND
2015-09-28AI91266ND
2016-10-05AJ306450.410 ppm
2016-10-05AJ30644ND
2016-10-05AJ30643ND
2017-09-13AJ675970.410 ppm
2017-09-13AJ675960.270 ppm
2017-09-13AJ67595ND
2018-11-05AK052360.350 ppm
2018-11-05AK052350.270 ppm
2018-11-05AK052340.450 ppm
2019-12-02AK37371ND
2019-12-02AK373730.410 ppm
2019-12-02AK37372ND