Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Town of Clayton Water System

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.

 

9

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

6

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.180 ppm220.180 ppm
20190.200 ppm220.200 ppm
2020ND10ND
20210.400 ppm110.400 ppm
20220.0500 ppm21ND - 0.1000 ppm
20230.200 ppm110.200 ppm

ppm = parts per million

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm

The EWG 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
2018-10-18354254300010.180 ppm
2018-10-18354254300010.180 ppm
2019-05-17354708760010.200 ppm
2019-05-17354708760010.200 ppm
2020-04-24B2002142-001ND
2021-03-11B2101157-0010.400 ppm
2022-02-09B2200598-0010.1000 ppm
2022-09-15B2204472-002ND
2023-03-13B2301075-0020.200 ppm