Nitrate and nitrite

North Las Vegas Utilities

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	0.593 ppm	3	3	0.380 ppm - 1.000 ppm
2015	0.570 ppm	2	2	0.410 ppm - 0.730 ppm
2016	0.380 ppm	3	3	0.375 ppm - 0.386 ppm
2017	0.588 ppm	3	3	0.355 ppm - 1.05 ppm
2018	0.519 ppm	5	5	0.357 ppm - 0.711 ppm
2019	0.580 ppm	2	2	0.390 ppm - 0.770 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
2014-02-11	14020152-001	0.380 ppm
2014-06-25	14060513-001	0.400 ppm
2014-07-31	14070540-001	1.000 ppm
2015-06-17	15060304-001	0.410 ppm
2015-09-09	15090134-001	0.730 ppm
2016-08-15	S1604142001	0.375 ppm
2016-11-28	S1605086001	0.386 ppm
2016-12-20	S1606672001	0.380 ppm
2017-03-12	S1701113001	0.359 ppm
2017-06-20	S1701805001	0.355 ppm
2017-10-11	S1706515001	1.05 ppm
2018-01-22	S1704327001	0.709 ppm
2018-01-22	S1704327002	0.364 ppm
2018-04-24	S1802813001	0.357 ppm
2018-05-23	S1802821001	0.452 ppm
2018-09-12	S1805259001	0.711 ppm
2019-02-06	S1902140001	0.770 ppm
2019-02-11	S1902141001	0.390 ppm