Nitrate and nitrite

Chesterfield County Central Water System

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
2014	0.145 ppm	4	3	ND - 0.290 ppm
2015	0.155 ppm	4	4	0.110 ppm - 0.270 ppm
2016	0.0250 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.0500 ppm
2017	0.0625 ppm	4	3	ND - 0.120 ppm
2018	0.103 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.290 ppm
2019	0.133 ppm	4	3	ND - 0.230 ppm

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
2014-04-22	E140308574	0.150 ppm
2014-04-22	E140308614	0.140 ppm
2014-04-22	E140308609	ND
2014-04-22	E140308607	0.290 ppm
2015-04-23	VA010-DCLS	0.270 ppm
2015-04-23	VA010-DCLS	0.120 ppm
2015-04-23	VA010-DCLS	0.120 ppm
2015-04-23	VA010-DCLS	0.110 ppm
2016-04-25	E160305655	0.0500 ppm
2016-04-25	E160305683	ND
2016-04-25	E160305656	ND
2016-04-25	E160305684	0.0500 ppm
2017-04-19	E170304733	0.0600 ppm
2017-04-19	E170304744	0.0700 ppm
2017-04-19	E170304753	0.120 ppm
2017-04-19	E170304723	ND
2018-06-13	E180403017	ND
2018-06-13	E180403022	0.120 ppm
2018-06-13	E180403031	0.290 ppm
2018-06-13	E180403041	ND
2019-05-16	E190402831	0.230 ppm
2019-05-16	E190402836	ND
2019-05-16	E190402840	0.150 ppm
2019-05-16	E190402844	0.150 ppm