Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Nitrite

City of Lancaster

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

30

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
2014ND50ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND50ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND

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
2014-02-101071526001ND
2014-04-011079400002ND
2014-04-011079400001ND
2014-07-302020634001ND
2014-10-142034676001ND
2015-02-1012486250ND
2015-05-0612720738ND
2015-05-0612720740ND
2015-08-2613233809ND
2015-12-0213603700ND
2016-03-0313956507ND
2016-04-1414215248ND
2016-05-0514368497ND
2016-08-2514867765ND
2016-11-0315334799ND
2017-02-1615759755ND
2017-05-1816218046ND
2017-05-1816218045ND
2017-07-1916529338ND
2017-10-0516844160ND
2018-03-082300842001ND
2018-05-242316804002ND
2018-05-242316804001ND
2018-07-262328643001ND
2018-11-082349170001ND
2019-02-283019392001ND
2019-05-013031190002ND
2019-05-013031190001ND
2019-07-173046049001ND
2019-10-093062760001ND