Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Canton PWS

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.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

4

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.180 ppm110.180 ppm
20190.0300 ppm110.0300 ppm
20200.134 ppm110.134 ppm
20210.193 ppm110.193 ppm
20220.184 ppm110.184 ppm
20230.197 ppm110.197 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
2018-06-14AD275860.180 ppm
2019-06-19AD487870.0300 ppm
2020-06-2220098760.134 ppm
2021-06-0821119540.193 ppm
2022-12-0522128910.184 ppm
2023-06-2723123990.197 ppm