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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Naval Support Facility, Dahlgren

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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-08-202025064001ND
2014-08-202025064002NITND
2014-08-202025064003NITND
2015-08-26460157-ANALYTICAND
2015-08-26460157-ANALYTICAND
2015-08-26460157-ANALYTICAND
2016-08-172168247001ND
2016-08-172168247002ND
2016-08-172168247003ND
2017-01-112201364002ND
2017-08-282257367003ND
2017-08-282257367002ND
2017-08-282257367001ND
2018-08-292335483001ND
2018-08-292335483002ND
2018-08-292335483003ND
2019-08-213053394-1ND
2019-08-213053394-2ND
2019-08-213053394-3ND