Nitrite
Ames Water Treatment Plant
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.
16
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
0
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2017 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2018 | 0.0420 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.0110 ppm - 0.0940 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.0488 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.00700 ppm - 0.1000 ppm |
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 | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-09-05 | 182333-N | 0.0110 ppm |
| 2018-10-17 | 182750 | 0.0440 ppm |
| 2018-11-28 | 183152 | 0.0940 ppm |
| 2018-12-05 | 183217 | 0.0190 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | 190125-1 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2019-02-06 | 190265 | 0.0170 ppm |
| 2019-03-13 | 190523 | 0.0290 ppm |
| 2019-04-22 | 190862 | 0.0260 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 191057 | 0.0150 ppm |
| 2019-06-05 | 191213-N | 0.00700 ppm |
| 2019-07-22 | 191615-N | 0.0840 ppm |
| 2019-08-12 | 191888 | 0.0920 ppm |
| 2019-09-10 | 192126 | 0.0580 ppm |
| 2019-10-02 | 192288-N | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2019-11-20 | 192664 | 0.0520 ppm |
| 2019-12-10 | 192798 | 0.0950 ppm |