Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

City of Grand Forks

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.

 

8

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

4

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.0500 ppm110.0500 ppm
20190.382 ppm110.382 ppm
20200.158 ppm110.158 ppm
20210.0915 ppm220.0570 ppm - 0.126 ppm
20220.362 ppm110.362 ppm
20230.935 ppm220.0990 ppm - 1.77 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
2018-05-1418-S7200.0500 ppm
2019-05-1319-S5560.382 ppm
2020-05-123640690.158 ppm
2021-05-033797700.0570 ppm
2021-06-213813150.126 ppm
2022-06-213966860.362 ppm
2023-04-184093261.77 ppm
2023-10-164179250.0990 ppm