Nitrate and nitrite
Metropolitan Utilities 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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2.12 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.307 ppm - 5.15 ppm |
| 2019 | 2.08 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.244 ppm - 5.30 ppm |
| 2020 | 1.86 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.277 ppm - 4.94 ppm |
| 2021 | 1.28 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.311 ppm - 2.56 ppm |
| 2022 | 1.02 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.723 ppm - 1.34 ppm |
| 2023 | 1.12 ppm | 9 | 9 | 0.311 ppm - 2.78 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-16 | 531398 | 1.04 ppm |
| 2018-03-26 | 531396 | 0.636 ppm |
| 2018-03-26 | 531397 | 2.22 ppm |
| 2018-05-07 | 545296 | 2.04 ppm |
| 2018-05-07 | 545295 | 5.15 ppm |
| 2018-06-05 | 545292 | 0.307 ppm |
| 2018-06-05 | 545290 | 1.97 ppm |
| 2018-06-05 | 545294 | 2.12 ppm |
| 2018-08-07 | 562858 | 0.743 ppm |
| 2018-08-07 | 562857 | 5.12 ppm |
| 2018-08-28 | 562856 | 2.22 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | 578858 | 1.82 ppm |
| 2019-02-04 | 591457 | 1.82 ppm |
| 2019-02-27 | 591456 | 2.41 ppm |
| 2019-02-27 | 591455 | 0.535 ppm |
| 2019-04-23 | 604243 | 4.99 ppm |
| 2019-04-23 | 604244 | 1.95 ppm |
| 2019-06-10 | 603523 | 2.17 ppm |
| 2019-06-10 | 603524 | 0.244 ppm |
| 2019-06-10 | 603522 | 1.86 ppm |
| 2019-07-22 | 619496 | 1.33 ppm |
| 2019-07-22 | 619495 | 5.30 ppm |
| 2019-09-10 | 619494 | 1.18 ppm |
| 2019-10-29 | 640637 | 1.14 ppm |
| 2020-01-21 | 649157 | 1.64 ppm |
| 2020-03-04 | 649156 | 1.95 ppm |
| 2020-03-04 | 649155 | 0.383 ppm |
| 2020-05-20 | 667506 | 1.29 ppm |
| 2020-05-20 | 667505 | 4.70 ppm |
| 2020-06-01 | 667979 | 1.85 ppm |
| 2020-06-01 | 667980 | 0.277 ppm |
| 2020-06-01 | 667978 | 2.33 ppm |
| 2020-08-03 | 681782 | 0.731 ppm |
| 2020-08-03 | 681781 | 4.94 ppm |
| 2020-08-24 | 683793 | 1.79 ppm |
| 2020-11-18 | 701855 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2021-02-23 | 715886 | 0.603 ppm |
| 2021-02-23 | 715885 | 1.62 ppm |
| 2021-02-23 | 715887 | 0.776 ppm |
| 2021-08-04 | 753899 | 0.311 ppm |
| 2021-08-04 | 753894 | 1.81 ppm |
| 2021-08-04 | 753883 | 2.56 ppm |
| 2022-03-21 | 780386 | 0.995 ppm |
| 2022-03-21 | 780385 | 1.34 ppm |
| 2022-03-21 | 780384 | 0.723 ppm |
| 2023-01-17 | 844801 | 0.311 ppm |
| 2023-01-17 | 844802 | 1.23 ppm |
| 2023-01-17 | 844803 | 2.78 ppm |
| 2023-03-02 | 843154 | 1.01 ppm |
| 2023-03-02 | 843153 | 1.63 ppm |
| 2023-03-02 | 843155 | 0.465 ppm |
| 2023-06-08 | 857513 | 0.546 ppm |
| 2023-06-08 | 857512 | 0.599 ppm |
| 2023-08-24 | 874810 | 1.47 ppm |