Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Clackamas River Water - Clackamas

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)

4

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.260 ppm110.260 ppm
20190.289 ppm110.289 ppm
20200.219 ppm110.219 ppm
20210.278 ppm110.278 ppm
2022ND10ND
2023ND10ND

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
2018-01-23802301101-I0.260 ppm
2019-01-22902201001-I0.289 ppm
2020-01-28002803001-I0.219 ppm
2021-01-26102602901-I0.278 ppm
2022-01-252025019-01-IND
2023-02-083039006-01-IND