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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

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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
2013N/A00N/A
20140.210 ppm110.210 ppm
20150.440 ppm110.440 ppm
20160.280 ppm110.280 ppm
20172.14 ppm112.14 ppm
20183.31 ppm113.31 ppm
20190.290 ppm110.290 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
2014-05-054E06005-010.210 ppm
2015-02-025B03015-010.440 ppm
2016-02-016B02014-010.280 ppm
2017-02-067B07029-012.14 ppm
2018-02-06AB07062-013.31 ppm
2019-12-16BL16016-010.290 ppm