Nitrite

Portage

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	N/A
2014	ND	11	ND
2015	N/A	0	N/A
2016	N/A	0	N/A
2017	N/A	0	N/A
2018	ND	11	ND
2019	ND	13	ND

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	Lab ID	Result
2014-03-03	LLF10610	ND
2014-03-03	LLF10609	ND
2014-03-03	LLF10612	ND
2014-03-03	LLF10611	ND
2014-03-03	LLF10613	ND
2014-03-03	LLF10607	ND
2014-03-03	LLF10608	ND
2014-08-17	LLF33050	ND
2014-08-17	LLF33051	ND
2014-08-17	LLF33052	ND
2014-08-21	LLF34337	ND
2018-05-22	LLH81757	ND
2018-05-22	LLH81762	ND
2018-05-22	LLH81758	ND
2018-05-22	LLH81756	ND
2018-05-22	LLH81759	ND
2018-05-22	LLH81761	ND
2018-05-22	LLH81760	ND
2018-06-25	LLH88663	ND
2018-06-25	LLH88664	ND
2018-08-22	LLI00614	ND
2018-09-20	LLI06939	ND
2019-06-11	LLI42385	ND
2019-06-17	LLI43775	ND
2019-06-17	LLI43778	ND
2019-06-17	LLI43780	ND
2019-06-17	LLI43777	ND
2019-06-17	LLI43776	ND
2019-06-17	LLI43782	ND
2019-06-17	LLI43781	ND
2019-06-17	LLI43779	ND
2019-08-15	LLI56721	ND
2019-08-15	LLI56722	ND
2019-09-05	LLI61811	ND
2019-09-05	LLI61812	ND