Nitrate and nitrite
Los Alamos Municipal Water System
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.
24
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
24
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.345 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.190 ppm - 0.470 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.408 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.330 ppm - 0.470 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.390 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.310 ppm - 0.460 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.408 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.330 ppm - 0.470 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.408 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.320 ppm - 0.460 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.413 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.330 ppm - 0.480 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-09-17 | 2014029687 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2014-09-17 | 2014029686 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2014-09-17 | 2014029684 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2014-09-17 | 2014029685 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 2015011693 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 2015011690 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 2015011692 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 2015011694 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016027010 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016027008 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016027007 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016027009 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | 2017013397 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | 2017013398 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 2017020153 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 2017020154 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | 2018019772 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | 2018019773 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | 2018019774 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | 2018019775 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | 2019014791 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | 2019014792 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | 2019014793 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | 2019014794 | 0.330 ppm |