Nitrate and nitrite

El Paso Water Utilities

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	0.0723 ppm	12	5	ND - 0.281 ppm
2015	1.20 ppm	14	13	ND - 2.44 ppm
2016	N/A	0	0	N/A
2017	N/A	0	0	N/A
2018	N/A	0	0	N/A
2019	ND	1	0	ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.14 ppm

The 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
2014-03-18	Q1408637014	0.281 ppm
2014-03-18	Q1408637013	ND
2014-08-19	Q1437559001	0.1000 ppm
2014-10-20	Q1453050014	ND
2014-10-20	Q1453050013	0.176 ppm
2014-10-22	Q1453551005	ND
2014-10-22	Q1453551004	ND
2014-10-22	Q1453551003	0.0725 ppm
2014-10-23	Q1453880001	ND
2014-11-13	Q1455930005	ND
2014-11-13	Q1455930004	0.238 ppm
2014-12-08	Q1458951004	ND
2015-01-21	Q1502478007	2.03 ppm
2015-01-21	Q1502478008	0.178 ppm
2015-02-04	Q1504474006	1.37 ppm
2015-02-04	Q1504474005	1.32 ppm
2015-02-23	Q1507037006	0.0130 ppm
2015-03-31	Q1511708006	2.44 ppm
2015-04-01	Q1511987002	ND
2015-04-08	Q1512891014	0.957 ppm
2015-04-08	Q1512891013	1.10 ppm
2015-04-08	Q1512891012	0.851 ppm
2015-04-13	Q1513485010	2.09 ppm
2015-04-13	Q1513485009	1.36 ppm
2015-04-13	Q1513485008	1.55 ppm
2015-11-09	Q1544170001	1.56 ppm
2019-05-29	Q1929690001	ND