Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Pulaski County Public Service Authority

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.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

6

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.890 ppm110.890 ppm
20190.881 ppm110.881 ppm
20200.870 ppm110.870 ppm
20210.880 ppm110.880 ppm
20220.720 ppm110.720 ppm
20230.700 ppm110.700 ppm

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
2018-01-1918012158-03A0.890 ppm
2019-01-181901216-07S0.881 ppm
2020-01-1773150180050.870 ppm
2021-01-157357318004_4601480.880 ppm
2022-01-2022-006830.720 ppm
2023-01-1723-006300.700 ppm