Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

South Kingstown-south Shore

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.

 

15

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

15

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.660 ppm330.240 ppm - 0.880 ppm
20190.942 ppm660.370 ppm - 1.26 ppm
2020N/A00N/A
20210.727 ppm330.430 ppm - 0.930 ppm
20220.703 ppm330.290 ppm - 0.920 ppm
2023N/A00N/A

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
2018-03-151801386-01_WL160.240 ppm
2018-03-151801386-02_WL160.880 ppm
2018-03-151801386-03_WL160.860 ppm
2019-03-131901323-01_WL160.420 ppm
2019-03-131901323-02_WL161.19 ppm
2019-03-131901323-03_WL161.23 ppm
2019-03-191901379-01_WL160.370 ppm
2019-03-191901379-02_WL161.18 ppm
2019-03-191901379-03_WL161.26 ppm
2021-03-172101480-01_WL160.820 ppm
2021-03-172101480-02_WL160.930 ppm
2021-03-252101589-01_WL160.430 ppm
2022-03-222201394-01_WL160.290 ppm
2022-03-222201394-02_WL160.900 ppm
2022-03-222201394-03_WL160.920 ppm