Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Canby Utility

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)

5

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.510 ppm110.510 ppm
20190.780 ppm110.780 ppm
2020ND10ND
20211.000 ppm111.000 ppm
20221.10 ppm111.10 ppm
20230.160 ppm110.160 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
2018-03-05201803060743-I0.510 ppm
2019-03-07201903080317-I0.780 ppm
2020-10-07202010080390-IND
2021-01-04202101050236-I1.000 ppm
2022-01-03202201040365-I1.10 ppm
2023-10-03380-65412-1-I0.160 ppm