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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

Western Berks Water Authority

Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND40ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND30ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1 ppm

The legal limit for nitrite, established in 1991, was based on the rate of conversion of ingested nitrate into nitrite in adults. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to nitrite exposure.

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-1014012167-01ND
2014-05-0514042629-01ND
2014-08-1214073272-01ND
2014-11-0414102543-01ND
2015-02-1212428100ND
2015-05-1112781492ND
2015-08-1213165068ND
2015-11-1113542981ND
2016-02-1213897260ND
2016-05-1114287850ND
2016-08-1014776178ND
2016-11-1515260047ND
2016-12-1415407345ND
2017-02-1315688201ND
2017-05-1216134847ND
2017-08-1416604524ND
2018-02-128020072-01ND
2018-05-108050069-01ND
2018-08-148080182-01ND
2018-11-128110684-01ND
2019-02-139020806-01REND
2019-05-139050613-01ND
2019-08-129080201-01ND
2019-11-119110520-01ND