Chlorite

Scituate Water Division

Chlorite is a disinfection byproduct resulting from water treatment with chlorine dioxide. Chlorite decreases hemoglobin levels and causes other hematologic effects. Read More.

Chlorite also forms when chlorine dioxide is used as a bleaching agent for textiles, paper pulp, flour and oils, and from the use of chlorine dioxide in food and packaging.� In 2009, California published a public health goal of 50 parts per billion for chlorite in drinking water. California state scientists reported that chlorite causes red blood cell damage, affects sperm and thyroid function, and may alter behavior and neurodevelopment of rat pups exposed in the womb.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

268

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

174

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	397.5 ppb	16	16	310.0 ppb - 510.0 ppb
2015	187.2 ppb	72	66	ND - 580.0 ppb
2016	178.1 ppb	66	58	ND - 800.0 ppb
2017	144.0 ppb	72	64	ND - 480.0 ppb
2018	ND	42	0	ND
2019	N/A	0	0	N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 50 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 50 ppb for chlorite was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against change in blood chemistry.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1,000 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Result
2014-01-15	340.0 ppb
2014-01-15	340.0 ppb
2014-02-11	320.0 ppb
2014-02-11	320.0 ppb
2014-03-05	380.0 ppb
2014-03-05	380.0 ppb
2014-04-14	460.0 ppb
2014-04-14	460.0 ppb
2014-05-14	360.0 ppb
2014-05-14	360.0 ppb
2014-06-04	310.0 ppb
2014-06-04	310.0 ppb
2014-11-06	500.0 ppb
2014-11-06	500.0 ppb
2014-12-22	510.0 ppb
2014-12-22	510.0 ppb
2015-01-20	22.0 ppb
2015-01-20	22.0 ppb
2015-01-20	54.0 ppb
2015-01-20	54.0 ppb
2015-01-20	360.0 ppb
2015-01-20	360.0 ppb
2015-02-04	100.0 ppb
2015-02-04	100.0 ppb
2015-02-04	94.0 ppb
2015-02-04	94.0 ppb
2015-02-04	540.0 ppb
2015-02-04	540.0 ppb
2015-03-09	78.0 ppb
2015-03-09	78.0 ppb
2015-03-09	ND
2015-03-09	ND
2015-03-09	400.0 ppb
2015-03-09	400.0 ppb
2015-04-13	120.0 ppb
2015-04-13	120.0 ppb
2015-04-13	ND
2015-04-13	ND
2015-04-13	400.0 ppb
2015-04-13	400.0 ppb
2015-05-11	180.0 ppb
2015-05-11	180.0 ppb
2015-05-11	ND
2015-05-11	ND
2015-05-11	360.0 ppb
2015-05-11	360.0 ppb
2015-06-08	140.0 ppb
2015-06-08	140.0 ppb
2015-06-08	39.0 ppb
2015-06-08	39.0 ppb
2015-06-08	320.0 ppb
2015-06-08	320.0 ppb
2015-07-06	120.0 ppb
2015-07-06	120.0 ppb
2015-07-06	18.0 ppb
2015-07-06	18.0 ppb
2015-07-06	310.0 ppb
2015-07-06	310.0 ppb
2015-08-11	90.0 ppb
2015-08-11	90.0 ppb
2015-08-11	55.0 ppb
2015-08-11	55.0 ppb
2015-08-11	250.0 ppb
2015-08-11	250.0 ppb
2015-09-01	110.0 ppb
2015-09-01	110.0 ppb
2015-09-01	48.0 ppb
2015-09-01	48.0 ppb
2015-09-01	290.0 ppb
2015-09-01	290.0 ppb
2015-10-06	110.0 ppb
2015-10-06	110.0 ppb
2015-10-06	170.0 ppb
2015-10-06	170.0 ppb
2015-10-06	320.0 ppb
2015-10-06	320.0 ppb
2015-11-10	190.0 ppb
2015-11-10	190.0 ppb
2015-11-10	140.0 ppb
2015-11-10	140.0 ppb
2015-11-10	460.0 ppb
2015-11-10	460.0 ppb
2015-12-08	110.0 ppb
2015-12-08	110.0 ppb
2015-12-08	160.0 ppb
2015-12-08	160.0 ppb
2015-12-08	580.0 ppb
2015-12-08	580.0 ppb
2016-01-05	170.0 ppb
2016-01-05	170.0 ppb
2016-01-05	ND
2016-01-05	ND
2016-01-05	570.0 ppb
2016-01-05	570.0 ppb
2016-02-17	250.0 ppb
2016-02-17	250.0 ppb
2016-02-17	270.0 ppb
2016-02-17	270.0 ppb
2016-02-17	800.0 ppb
2016-02-17	800.0 ppb
2016-03-14	150.0 ppb
2016-03-14	150.0 ppb
2016-03-14	16.0 ppb
2016-03-14	16.0 ppb
2016-03-14	630.0 ppb
2016-03-14	630.0 ppb
2016-04-11	110.0 ppb
2016-04-11	110.0 ppb
2016-04-11	10.00 ppb
2016-04-11	10.00 ppb
2016-04-11	560.0 ppb
2016-04-11	560.0 ppb
2016-05-09	160.0 ppb
2016-05-09	160.0 ppb
2016-05-09	ND
2016-05-09	ND
2016-05-09	460.0 ppb
2016-05-09	460.0 ppb
2016-06-09	130.0 ppb
2016-06-09	130.0 ppb
2016-06-09	35.0 ppb
2016-06-09	35.0 ppb
2016-06-09	330.0 ppb
2016-06-09	330.0 ppb
2016-08-08	110.0 ppb
2016-08-08	110.0 ppb
2016-08-08	10.00 ppb
2016-08-08	10.00 ppb
2016-08-08	210.0 ppb
2016-08-08	210.0 ppb
2016-09-07	ND
2016-09-07	ND
2016-09-07	55.0 ppb
2016-09-07	55.0 ppb
2016-09-07	160.0 ppb
2016-09-07	160.0 ppb
2016-10-04	55.0 ppb
2016-10-04	55.0 ppb
2016-10-04	65.0 ppb
2016-10-04	65.0 ppb
2016-10-04	140.0 ppb
2016-10-04	140.0 ppb
2016-11-02	55.0 ppb
2016-11-02	55.0 ppb
2016-11-02	11.0 ppb
2016-11-02	11.0 ppb
2016-11-02	130.0 ppb
2016-11-02	130.0 ppb
2016-12-05	44.0 ppb
2016-12-05	44.0 ppb
2016-12-05	ND
2016-12-05	ND
2016-12-05	180.0 ppb
2016-12-05	180.0 ppb
2017-01-11	62.0 ppb
2017-01-11	62.0 ppb
2017-01-11	ND
2017-01-11	ND
2017-01-11	220.0 ppb
2017-01-11	220.0 ppb
2017-02-14	88.0 ppb
2017-02-14	88.0 ppb
2017-02-14	69.0 ppb
2017-02-14	69.0 ppb
2017-02-14	230.0 ppb
2017-02-14	230.0 ppb
2017-03-07	73.0 ppb
2017-03-07	73.0 ppb
2017-03-07	37.0 ppb
2017-03-07	37.0 ppb
2017-03-07	260.0 ppb
2017-03-07	260.0 ppb
2017-04-04	100.0 ppb
2017-04-04	100.0 ppb
2017-04-04	95.0 ppb
2017-04-04	95.0 ppb
2017-04-04	310.0 ppb
2017-04-04	310.0 ppb
2017-05-02	74.0 ppb
2017-05-02	74.0 ppb
2017-05-02	15.0 ppb
2017-05-02	15.0 ppb
2017-05-02	310.0 ppb
2017-05-02	310.0 ppb
2017-06-06	60.0 ppb
2017-06-06	60.0 ppb
2017-06-06	31.0 ppb
2017-06-06	31.0 ppb
2017-06-06	160.0 ppb
2017-06-06	160.0 ppb
2017-07-11	61.0 ppb
2017-07-11	61.0 ppb
2017-07-11	40.0 ppb
2017-07-11	40.0 ppb
2017-07-11	150.0 ppb
2017-07-11	150.0 ppb
2017-08-24	68.0 ppb
2017-08-24	68.0 ppb
2017-08-24	59.0 ppb
2017-08-24	59.0 ppb
2017-08-24	410.0 ppb
2017-08-24	410.0 ppb
2017-09-12	250.0 ppb
2017-09-12	250.0 ppb
2017-09-12	91.0 ppb
2017-09-12	91.0 ppb
2017-09-12	450.0 ppb
2017-09-12	450.0 ppb
2017-10-04	200.0 ppb
2017-10-04	200.0 ppb
2017-10-04	200.0 ppb
2017-10-04	200.0 ppb
2017-10-04	480.0 ppb
2017-10-04	480.0 ppb
2017-11-09	110.0 ppb
2017-11-09	110.0 ppb
2017-11-09	12.0 ppb
2017-11-09	12.0 ppb
2017-11-09	410.0 ppb
2017-11-09	410.0 ppb
2017-12-05	ND
2017-12-05	ND
2017-12-05	ND
2017-12-05	ND
2017-12-05	ND
2017-12-05	ND
2018-01-10	ND
2018-01-10	ND
2018-01-10	ND
2018-01-10	ND
2018-01-10	ND
2018-01-10	ND
2018-02-12	ND
2018-02-12	ND
2018-02-12	ND
2018-02-12	ND
2018-02-12	ND
2018-02-12	ND
2018-03-12	ND
2018-03-12	ND
2018-03-12	ND
2018-03-12	ND
2018-03-12	ND
2018-03-12	ND
2018-04-03	ND
2018-04-03	ND
2018-04-03	ND
2018-04-03	ND
2018-04-03	ND
2018-04-03	ND
2018-07-25	ND
2018-07-25	ND
2018-07-25	ND
2018-07-25	ND
2018-07-25	ND
2018-07-25	ND
2018-08-08	ND
2018-08-08	ND
2018-08-08	ND
2018-08-08	ND
2018-08-08	ND
2018-08-08	ND
2018-09-13	ND
2018-09-13	ND
2018-09-13	ND
2018-09-13	ND
2018-09-13	ND
2018-09-13	ND