Nitrate and nitrite

Wards Chapel 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.

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	ND	6	0	ND
2015	ND	6	0	ND
2016	N/A	0	0	N/A
2017	0.0490 ppm	4	4	0.0270 ppm - 0.0710 ppm
2018	ND	4	0	ND
2019	0.0345 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.0690 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
2014-10-22	AD98845	ND
2014-10-22	AD98845	ND
2014-12-10	AE00476	ND
2014-12-10	AE00475	ND
2014-12-10	AE00476	ND
2014-12-10	AE00475	ND
2015-01-05	AE00840	ND
2015-01-05	AE00845	ND
2015-01-05	AE00860	ND
2015-01-05	AE00840	ND
2015-01-05	AE00845	ND
2015-01-05	AE00860	ND
2017-11-16	35349098002	0.0270 ppm
2017-11-16	35349098001	0.0710 ppm
2017-11-16	35349098001	0.0710 ppm
2017-11-16	35349098002	0.0270 ppm
2018-01-09	35367822002	ND
2018-01-09	35367822001	ND
2018-01-09	35367822001	ND
2018-01-09	35367822002	ND
2019-12-06	35519667001	ND
2019-12-06	35519667002	0.0690 ppm
2019-12-06	35519667001	ND
2019-12-06	35519667002	0.0690 ppm