Nitrate and nitrite

Altavista, Town of

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	0.127 ppm	3	3	0.0900 ppm - 0.180 ppm
2015	0.127 ppm	3	2	ND - 0.280 ppm
2016	0.207 ppm	3	3	0.1000 ppm - 0.400 ppm
2017	0.143 ppm	3	3	0.140 ppm - 0.150 ppm
2018	0.237 ppm	3	3	0.110 ppm - 0.480 ppm
2019	0.133 ppm	3	2	ND - 0.270 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
2014-10-01	E140900887	0.110 ppm
2014-10-01	E140900885	0.0900 ppm
2014-10-01	E140900879	0.180 ppm
2015-10-01	00281-REI CONSUL	0.280 ppm
2015-10-01	00281-REI CONSUL	0.1000 ppm
2015-10-01	00281-REI CONSUL	ND
2016-10-11	16101205-09A	0.400 ppm
2016-10-11	16101205-08A	0.1000 ppm
2016-10-11	16101205-07A	0.120 ppm
2017-11-14	17112161-09A	0.140 ppm
2017-11-14	17112161-07A	0.140 ppm
2017-11-14	17112161-08A	0.150 ppm
2018-11-20	18112619-05A	0.120 ppm
2018-11-20	18112619-06A	0.110 ppm
2018-11-20	18112619-07A	0.480 ppm
2019-11-21	739025001	0.130 ppm
2019-11-21	739025002	ND
2019-11-21	739025003	0.270 ppm