Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Greater Augusta Utility District

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)

8

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.250 ppm110.250 ppm
2019N/A00N/A
20200.765 ppm660.1000 ppm - 2.30 ppm
20210.210 ppm110.210 ppm
2022N/A00N/A
20230.960 ppm110.960 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
2018-03-201803947-010.250 ppm
2020-03-172005730-010.180 ppm
2020-03-172005729-010.290 ppm
2020-03-172005728-010.220 ppm
2020-03-172005727-010.1000 ppm
2020-04-092001837-011.50 ppm
2020-06-242011452-012.30 ppm
2021-06-172101823-010.210 ppm
2023-06-212303378-010.960 ppm