Nitrate and nitrite
Truckee Meadows Water Authority
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.
116
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
73
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.793 ppm | 15 | 9 | ND - 3.50 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.443 ppm | 9 | 4 | ND - 1.70 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.425 ppm | 22 | 7 | ND - 2.24 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.105 ppm | 27 | 18 | ND - 2.78 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.932 ppm | 21 | 18 | ND - 2.64 ppm |
| 2019 | 1.13 ppm | 22 | 18 | ND - 3.73 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-04-22 | 0414-14I | 1.40 ppm |
| 2014-04-22 | 0414-12-I | 1.10 ppm |
| 2014-04-23 | 0414-17-I | ND |
| 2014-04-23 | 0414-16-I | ND |
| 2014-05-17 | 0614-13-I | ND |
| 2014-06-09 | 0614-06-I | ND |
| 2014-06-09 | 0614-07-I | ND |
| 2014-06-17 | 0614-11-I | 0.300 ppm |
| 2014-06-17 | 0614-10-I | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-06-17 | 0614-09-I | 0.500 ppm |
| 2014-06-17 | 0614-12-I | 2.50 ppm |
| 2014-06-17 | 0614-13-N | ND |
| 2014-06-17 | 0514-14-I | 0.500 ppm |
| 2014-06-24 | 0614-28-I | 1.50 ppm |
| 2014-06-24 | 0614-26-I | 3.50 ppm |
| 2015-06-08 | 1506017-01 | ND |
| 2015-06-08 | 1506018-01 | ND |
| 2015-06-11 | 1506027-01 | 0.868 ppm |
| 2015-06-17 | 1506035-01 | 1.01 ppm |
| 2015-06-17 | 1506036-01 | ND |
| 2015-06-17 | 1506037-01 | ND |
| 2015-06-17 | 1506038-01 | ND |
| 2015-06-23 | 1506055-01 | 1.70 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 1506061-01 | 0.406 ppm |
| 2016-05-31 | 1605028-01 | ND |
| 2016-05-31 | 1605025-01 | ND |
| 2016-05-31 | 1605026-01 | ND |
| 2016-05-31 | 1605027-01 | ND |
| 2016-06-01 | 1606001-01 | ND |
| 2016-06-06 | 1606010-01 | 1.30 ppm |
| 2016-06-28 | 1606059-01 | ND |
| 2016-06-28 | 1606052-01 | ND |
| 2016-07-19 | 1607023-01 | 0.990 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 1607024-01 | ND |
| 2016-07-19 | 1607025-01 | ND |
| 2016-08-04 | 1608010-01 | 0.980 ppm |
| 2016-08-04 | 1608011-01 | 1.43 ppm |
| 2016-08-04 | 1608012-01 | ND |
| 2016-08-15 | 1608022-01 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2016-08-15 | 1608023-01 | 2.24 ppm |
| 2016-08-24 | 1608035-01 | 1.56 ppm |
| 2016-08-24 | 1608034-01 | ND |
| 2016-08-24 | 1608033-01 | ND |
| 2016-08-24 | 1608037-01 | ND |
| 2016-08-25 | 1608036-01 | ND |
| 2016-08-25 | 1608039-01 | ND |
| 2017-02-07 | 1702004-01 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2017-03-08 | 1703009-01 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2017-03-08 | 1703008-01 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | 1705003-01 | ND |
| 2017-05-02 | 1705004-01 | ND |
| 2017-05-02 | 1705005-01 | ND |
| 2017-05-15 | 1705023-01 | ND |
| 2017-05-15 | 1705025-01 | ND |
| 2017-05-15 | 1705024-01 | ND |
| 2017-05-25 | 1705041-01 | ND |
| 2017-06-01 | 0.105 ppm* | |
| 2017-06-14 | 1706017-01 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 1707003-01 | 1.79 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 1707002-01 | 2.78 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 1707005-01 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 1707004-01 | 2.12 ppm |
| 2017-07-18 | 1707020-01 | 1.49 ppm |
| 2017-07-18 | 1707021-01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-07-18 | 1707022-01 | ND |
| 2017-07-18 | 1707024-01 | 1.75 ppm |
| 2017-08-16 | 1708013-01 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2017-08-16 | 1708014-01 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2017-08-29 | 1708026-01 | 1.35 ppm |
| 2017-08-29 | 1708027-01 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2017-08-29 | 1708029-01 | 2.46 ppm |
| 2017-08-29 | 1708030-01 | ND |
| 2017-08-29 | 1708025-01 | 0.980 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 1801009-01 | 1.17 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | 1802001-01 | 1.53 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | 1802003-01 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2018-02-06 | 1802006-01 | 1.15 ppm |
| 2018-04-04 | 1804005-01 | ND |
| 2018-04-09 | 1804011-01 | 2.64 ppm |
| 2018-04-09 | 1804012-01 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2018-04-11 | 1804017-01 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2018-04-11 | 1804018-01 | 1.08 ppm |
| 2018-04-11 | 1804019-01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2018-04-24 | 1804027-01 | ND |
| 2018-04-25 | 1804025-01 | ND |
| 2018-04-26 | 1804044-01 | 1.79 ppm |
| 2018-05-21 | 1805043-01 | 1.45 ppm |
| 2018-05-23 | 1805041-01 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2018-07-24 | 1807025-01 | 1.97 ppm |
| 2018-11-14 | 1811008-02 | 0.937 ppm |
| 2018-11-14 | 1811009-02 | 1.02 ppm |
| 2018-11-14 | 1811010-02 | 0.966 ppm |
| 2018-11-14 | 1811011-02 | 0.375 ppm |
| 2018-11-14 | 1811012-02 | 0.484 ppm |
| 2019-01-09 | 1901012-02 | 0.395 ppm |
| 2019-01-09 | 1901013-02 | 0.868 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | 1901011-02 | ND |
| 2019-01-16 | 1901017-02 | 0.625 ppm |
| 2019-01-22 | 1901010-02 | ND |
| 2019-02-05 | 1902001-01 | ND |
| 2019-02-26 | 1902019-01 | ND |
| 2019-05-07 | 1905007-01 | 0.539 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | 1905008-01 | 0.451 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | 1906012-01 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | 1906013-01 | 1.58 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | 1906014-01 | 0.739 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | 1906015-01 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | 1906016-01 | 3.73 ppm |
| 2019-07-09 | 1907014-02WET | 0.380 ppm |
| 2019-07-09 | 1907018-01WET | 0.470 ppm |
| 2019-07-25 | 1907045-01 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2019-07-29 | 1907046-01 | 3.35 ppm |
| 2019-07-30 | 1907048-01 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2019-08-06 | 1908002-01 | 2.26 ppm |
| 2019-08-06 | 1908004-01 | 2.22 ppm |
| 2019-08-06 | 1908007-01 | 1.56 ppm |
* Sample result is taken from the system's CCR report.