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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Citizens Water - Indianapolis

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

 

96

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

68

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.899 ppm2921ND - 2.90 ppm
20150.898 ppm1510ND - 3.00 ppm
20161.01 ppm1612ND - 3.37 ppm
20170.834 ppm1712ND - 2.69 ppm
20180.758 ppm108ND - 2.34 ppm
20190.822 ppm96ND - 2.42 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
2014-02-12670869NND
2014-02-12670874NND
2014-02-12670872NND
2014-02-12670859N1.30 ppm
2014-02-12670857N2.20 ppm
2014-02-12670855N1.60 ppm
2014-02-12670853N2.90 ppm
2014-05-14683186N1.80 ppm
2014-05-14683180N2.20 ppm
2014-05-14683182N1.000 ppm
2014-05-14683184N0.800 ppm
2014-05-14683190NND
2014-05-14683192N0.570 ppm
2014-05-14683194N0.200 ppm
2014-08-13696774-08NND
2014-08-13696772-07N0.640 ppm
2014-08-13696770-06N0.610 ppm
2014-08-13696768-05NND
2014-08-13696766-04N1.10 ppm
2014-08-13696764-03N0.770 ppm
2014-08-13696762-02N0.290 ppm
2014-08-13696760-01N2.10 ppm
2014-11-12710030NND
2014-11-12710028N1.10 ppm
2014-11-12710026NND
2014-11-12710022N1.50 ppm
2014-11-12710020N0.650 ppm
2014-11-12710018N0.140 ppm
2014-11-12710016N2.60 ppm
2015-02-11722648-05NND
2015-02-11722640-01N2.50 ppm
2015-02-11722642-02N1.80 ppm
2015-02-11722644-04N1.70 ppm
2015-02-11722650-06N0.910 ppm
2015-02-11722652-07N0.400 ppm
2015-11-09150100708N1.10 ppm
2015-11-09150100706N0.310 ppm
2015-11-09150100704NND
2015-11-09150100702N3.00 ppm
2015-11-10150102308NND
2015-11-11150102911N0.810 ppm
2015-11-11150102910NND
2015-11-11150102912NND
2015-11-11150102913N0.940 ppm
2016-05-1116067304N0.230 ppm
2016-05-1116067302N0.800 ppm
2016-05-1116067026N2.22 ppm
2016-05-1116067021N1.87 ppm
2016-05-1116067014N1.23 ppm
2016-05-1116067007N3.37 ppm
2016-05-1116066622NND
2016-08-0916122502NND
2016-08-0916121409NND
2016-08-0916121404N1.84 ppm
2016-08-0916121403N0.350 ppm
2016-08-0916121402N0.490 ppm
2016-08-0916121401N2.88 ppm
2016-08-1016122506NND
2016-08-1016122508N0.440 ppm
2016-08-1016122514N0.450 ppm
2017-05-0917070705N1.29 ppm
2017-05-0917070707N1.52 ppm
2017-05-0917070709N1.68 ppm
2017-05-0917070719NND
2017-05-0917070703N2.69 ppm
2017-05-1017071405N0.220 ppm
2017-05-1017071403NND
2017-05-1017071401NND
2017-08-1517130610ND
2017-08-1617130605ND
2017-08-16171306070.380 ppm
2017-08-16171306061.18 ppm
2017-08-16171306041.60 ppm
2017-08-16171306030.460 ppm
2017-08-16171306020.400 ppm
2017-08-16171306012.40 ppm
2017-08-16171306080.360 ppm
2018-08-1418127710NND
2018-08-15524900040.910 ppm
2018-08-1518128108N0.910 ppm
2018-08-1518128107N0.420 ppm
2018-08-1518128106N0.630 ppm
2018-08-1518128105NND
2018-08-1518128104N1.58 ppm
2018-08-1518128101N2.34 ppm
2018-08-1518128102N0.480 ppm
2018-08-1518128103N0.310 ppm
2019-05-1419092612NND
2019-05-1519092602N0.890 ppm
2019-05-1519092607NND
2019-05-1519092606N0.630 ppm
2019-05-1519092605NND
2019-05-1519092604N1.56 ppm
2019-05-1519092603N1.07 ppm
2019-05-1519092601N2.42 ppm
2019-08-1419169103N0.830 ppm