Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Salem Public Works

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.0500 ppm21ND - 0.1000 ppm
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
20210.0900 ppm41ND - 0.360 ppm
20220.0325 ppm41ND - 0.130 ppm
20230.0367 ppm61ND - 0.220 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
2018-01-24201801250239-I0.1000 ppm
2018-08-23758125-IND
2019-02-07201902080338-IND
2019-02-07201902080704-IND
2020-02-03202002040118-IND
2020-05-18202005190119-IND
2021-02-16202102170345-I0.360 ppm
2021-05-10202105110678-IND
2021-09-09202109100208-IND
2021-10-14202110150148-IND
2022-02-16202202180003-I0.130 ppm
2022-06-23380-6930-1-IND
2022-10-12380-24325-1-IND
2022-11-30380-29829-1-IND
2023-01-04380-33407-1-I0.220 ppm
2023-04-27380-45315-1-IND
2023-08-15380-59270-1-IND
2023-09-20380-63855-1-IND
2023-10-31380-69235-1-IND
2023-10-31380-69271-1-IND