Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Cumberland County 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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

3

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.185 ppm220.170 ppm - 0.200 ppm
2019ND20ND
20200.0300 ppm21ND - 0.0600 ppm
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
20230.0950 ppm21ND - 0.190 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
2018-03-07E1712036120.200 ppm
2018-07-12E1807001770.170 ppm
2019-03-04E190101222ND
2019-08-05E190701650ND
2020-02-03E191201430ND
2020-08-17E2006024340.0600 ppm
2021-02-03E210100436ND
2021-08-02E210601647ND
2022-03-14E220101134ND
2022-08-01E220701161ND
2023-03-20E230100689ND
2023-09-06E2306046780.190 ppm