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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Route 66 Homes

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

9

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.250 ppm220.150 ppm - 0.350 ppm
20150.205 ppm220.120 ppm - 0.290 ppm
20160.245 ppm220.180 ppm - 0.310 ppm
20170.210 ppm220.120 ppm - 0.300 ppm
20180.230 ppm220.140 ppm - 0.320 ppm
20190.245 ppm220.150 ppm - 0.340 ppm

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.14 ppm

The 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
2014-10-27AC361420.150 ppm
2014-10-27AC361430.350 ppm
2015-11-25AC630040.290 ppm
2015-11-25AC630030.120 ppm
2016-11-03AC872110.310 ppm
2016-11-03AC872120.180 ppm
2017-11-08AD097330.120 ppm
2017-11-08AD097320.300 ppm
2018-11-20AD358960.140 ppm
2018-11-20AD358970.320 ppm
2019-11-13AD582500.150 ppm
2019-11-13AD582510.340 ppm