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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

El Paso Water Utilities

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

 

34

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
2014ND120ND
2015ND140ND
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND30ND
2018N/A00N/A
20190.0270 ppm52ND - 0.0926 ppm

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
2014-03-18Q1408637014ND
2014-03-18Q1408637013ND
2014-08-19Q1437559001ND
2014-10-20Q1453050014ND
2014-10-20Q1453050013ND
2014-10-22Q1453551003ND
2014-10-22Q1453551004ND
2014-10-22Q1453551005ND
2014-10-23Q1453880001ND
2014-11-13Q1455930005ND
2014-11-13Q1455930004ND
2014-12-08Q1458951004ND
2015-01-21Q1502478008ND
2015-01-21Q1502478007ND
2015-02-04Q1504474006ND
2015-02-04Q1504474005ND
2015-02-23Q1507037006ND
2015-03-31Q1511708006ND
2015-04-01Q1511987002ND
2015-04-08Q1512891014ND
2015-04-08Q1512891013ND
2015-04-08Q1512891012ND
2015-04-13Q1513485008ND
2015-04-13Q1513485009ND
2015-04-13Q1513485010ND
2015-11-09Q1544170001ND
2017-08-28Q1738511008ND
2017-11-30Q1761453006ND
2017-11-30Q1761453023ND
2019-04-23Q1916065001ND
2019-05-29Q1929690001ND
2019-05-30Q19303710010.0926 ppm
2019-06-26Q19403990190.0422 ppm
2019-11-14Q1976997005ND