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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Beggs

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.

 

7

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

3

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.0955 ppm21ND - 0.191 ppm
2015ND10ND
20160.178 ppm110.178 ppm
20170.142 ppm110.142 ppm
2018ND10ND
2019ND10ND

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
2014-02-254B25055-030.191 ppm
2014-06-24039187.001ND
2015-03-30053033.001ND
2016-12-066L06080-030.178 ppm
2017-11-097K10003-010.142 ppm
2018-12-11AL11113-01ND
2019-10-15BJ15083-01ND