Nitrate and nitrite

Los Lunas 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.

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	0.115 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.280 ppm
2015	0.228 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.600 ppm
2016	0.138 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.350 ppm
2017	0.130 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.320 ppm
2018	0.250 ppm	3	3	0.0800 ppm - 0.340 ppm
2019	0.250 ppm	3	3	0.120 ppm - 0.370 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	2014018353	ND
2014-06-04	2014018354	0.280 ppm
2014-06-04	2014018352	ND
2014-06-11	2014019040	0.180 ppm
2015-02-25	2015007275	ND
2015-02-25	2015007274	ND
2015-02-25	2015007273	0.600 ppm
2015-02-25	2015007272	0.310 ppm
2016-01-20	2016001812	ND
2016-01-20	2016001809	ND
2016-01-20	2016001810	0.200 ppm
2016-01-20	2016001811	0.350 ppm
2017-03-23	2017008434	ND
2017-03-23	2017008435	0.320 ppm
2017-03-23	2017008433	0.200 ppm
2017-03-23	2017008432	ND
2018-09-18	2018026906	0.330 ppm
2018-09-19	2018026904	0.0800 ppm
2018-09-19	2018026905	0.340 ppm
2019-03-05	2019005412	0.260 ppm
2019-03-05	2019005413	0.370 ppm
2019-03-05	2019005414	0.120 ppm