Nitrate and nitrite

Oneill, City of

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.364 ppm	4	3	ND - 0.902 ppm
2015	0.233 ppm	4	4	0.119 ppm - 0.308 ppm
2016	0.361 ppm	4	4	0.137 ppm - 0.682 ppm
2017	0.178 ppm	4	3	ND - 0.410 ppm
2018	0.382 ppm	4	4	0.0899 ppm - 0.862 ppm
2019	0.0728 ppm	4	3	ND - 0.167 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
2014-06-04	295041	0.232 ppm
2014-06-04	295042	0.320 ppm
2014-06-04	295040	0.902 ppm
2014-09-15	309365	ND
2015-06-04	356976	0.251 ppm
2015-06-04	356977	0.254 ppm
2015-06-04	356978	0.308 ppm
2015-09-01	374195	0.119 ppm
2016-05-25		0.682 ppm
2016-05-25		0.340 ppm
2016-05-25		0.137 ppm
2016-08-23		0.284 ppm
2017-05-30		ND
2017-05-30		0.410 ppm
2017-05-30		0.138 ppm
2017-08-23		0.165 ppm
2018-06-05	545142	0.286 ppm
2018-06-05	545143	0.290 ppm
2018-06-05	545144	0.862 ppm
2018-09-17	562755	0.0899 ppm
2019-06-10	603471	0.0519 ppm
2019-06-10	603472	0.167 ppm
2019-06-10	603473	ND
2019-09-03	619281	0.0724 ppm