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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Cortland

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.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

6

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20142.75 ppm112.75 ppm
20152.56 ppm112.56 ppm
20160.554 ppm110.554 ppm
20174.31 ppm114.31 ppm
20183.38 ppm113.38 ppm
20193.11 ppm113.11 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
2014-04-24NANI 14Q2 CORTLA2.75 ppm
2015-05-28NANI 15 CORTLAND2.56 ppm
2016-05-26NANI 16 CORTLAND0.554 ppm
2017-05-11NANI 17 CORTLAND4.31 ppm
2018-05-31NANI 18 CORTLAND3.38 ppm
2019-05-30NANI 19 CORTLAND3.11 ppm