Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Pecan Tree Water Association

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.

 

8

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

8

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.225 ppm220.210 ppm - 0.240 ppm
20190.220 ppm220.200 ppm - 0.240 ppm
2020N/A00N/A
2021N/A00N/A
20220.160 ppm220.160 ppm
20230.160 ppm220.150 ppm - 0.170 ppm

ppm = parts per million

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm

The EWG 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
2018-11-06SDWA-1326381-000.210 ppm
2018-11-06SDWA-1326382-000.240 ppm
2019-02-22SDWA-1340951-000.240 ppm
2019-02-22SDWA-1340955-000.200 ppm
2022-01-24SDWA-1568192-000.160 ppm
2022-01-24SDWA-1568194-000.160 ppm
2023-03-28SDWA-1769059-000.170 ppm
2023-03-28SDWA-1769065-000.150 ppm