Nitrate and nitrite

Crest Hill

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.

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	0.232 ppm	7	3	ND - 0.985 ppm
2015	0.285 ppm	7	3	ND - 0.943 ppm
2016	0.0859 ppm	7	2	ND - 0.436 ppm
2017	N/A	0	0	N/A
2018	0.609 ppm	3	2	ND - 0.913 ppm
2019	N/A	0	0	N/A

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
2014-04-30	SE40011-02_01	ND
2014-04-30	SE40011-03_01	0.985 ppm
2014-04-30	SE40011-04_01	ND
2014-04-30	SE40011-05_01	ND
2014-04-30	SE40011-06_01	0.170 ppm
2014-04-30	SE40011-07_01	ND
2014-04-30	SE40011-01_01	0.470 ppm
2015-04-15	1504B34-005B	0.385 ppm
2015-04-15	1504B34-006B	ND
2015-04-15	1504B34-004B	ND
2015-04-15	1504B34-003B	ND
2015-04-15	1504B34-002B	0.943 ppm
2015-04-15	1504B34-001B	ND
2015-05-21	1505H39-001B	0.664 ppm
2016-04-11	1604780-001B	ND
2016-04-11	1604780-002B	ND
2016-04-11	1604780-003B	0.436 ppm
2016-04-11	1604780-004B	ND
2016-04-11	1604780-005B	ND
2016-04-11	1604780-006B	0.165 ppm
2016-04-11	1604780-007B	ND
2018-06-26	18F1104-01_02	0.913 ppm
2018-06-26	18F1104-02_02	0.913 ppm
2018-10-31	18K0002-01_02	ND