Nitrite
Burlington Water Department
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.
78
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.0250 ppm | 6 | 1 | ND - 0.150 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.00857 ppm | 14 | 1 | ND - 0.120 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.0174 ppm | 13 | 2 | ND - 0.160 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.0219 ppm | 13 | 2 | ND - 0.210 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.0250 ppm | 20 | 4 | ND - 0.180 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.129 ppm | 12 | 6 | ND - 0.340 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 | Result |
|---|---|
| 2014-03-04 | ND |
| 2014-05-06 | ND |
| 2014-09-11 | 0.150 ppm |
| 2014-09-11 | ND |
| 2014-09-11 | ND |
| 2014-11-20 | ND |
| 2015-02-24 | ND |
| 2015-02-24 | ND |
| 2015-06-02 | ND |
| 2015-07-15 | ND |
| 2015-09-03 | ND |
| 2015-09-03 | ND |
| 2015-09-03 | ND |
| 2015-09-03 | ND |
| 2015-09-03 | ND |
| 2015-09-03 | ND |
| 2015-09-03 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2015-09-03 | ND |
| 2015-09-03 | ND |
| 2015-10-05 | ND |
| 2016-01-19 | ND |
| 2016-05-17 | ND |
| 2016-07-15 | ND |
| 2016-08-10 | ND |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.0660 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-08-10 | ND |
| 2016-08-10 | ND |
| 2016-08-10 | ND |
| 2016-08-10 | ND |
| 2016-08-10 | ND |
| 2016-08-10 | ND |
| 2016-10-19 | ND |
| 2017-03-28 | ND |
| 2017-05-16 | ND |
| 2017-07-25 | ND |
| 2017-08-09 | ND |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.0750 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | ND |
| 2017-08-09 | ND |
| 2017-08-09 | ND |
| 2017-08-09 | ND |
| 2017-08-09 | ND |
| 2017-08-09 | ND |
| 2017-12-29 | ND |
| 2018-03-23 | ND |
| 2018-05-08 | ND |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | ND |
| 2018-08-29 | ND |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | ND |
| 2018-08-29 | ND |
| 2018-08-29 | ND |
| 2018-12-17 | ND |
| 2018-12-17 | ND |
| 2018-12-17 | ND |
| 2018-12-18 | ND |
| 2018-12-18 | ND |
| 2018-12-18 | ND |
| 2018-12-18 | ND |
| 2018-12-18 | ND |
| 2018-12-18 | ND |
| 2019-02-07 | ND |
| 2019-06-18 | ND |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | ND |
| 2019-09-20 | ND |
| 2019-09-20 | ND |
| 2019-09-20 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2019-11-26 | ND |