Nitrate and nitrite
City of Moses Lake
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.410 ppm | 18 | 10 | ND - 2.79 ppm |
| 2019 | 1.45 ppm | 19 | 13 | ND - 6.34 ppm |
| 2020 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2021 | 0.726 ppm | 23 | 12 | ND - 5.10 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.249 ppm | 18 | 7 | ND - 1.48 ppm |
| 2023 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-28 | ND | |
| 2018-03-28 | ND | |
| 2018-03-28 | 1.63 ppm | |
| 2018-03-29 | ND | |
| 2018-03-29 | 0.280 ppm | |
| 2018-05-15 | 2.79 ppm | |
| 2018-06-28 | 0.0900 ppm | |
| 2018-07-02 | ND | |
| 2018-07-05 | 1.11 ppm | |
| 2018-07-05 | 0.120 ppm | |
| 2018-07-09 | ND | |
| 2018-07-09 | 0.0800 ppm | |
| 2018-08-13 | 0.840 ppm | |
| 2018-09-10 | ND | |
| 2018-09-10 | 0.180 ppm | |
| 2018-09-10 | ND | |
| 2018-09-11 | 0.260 ppm | |
| 2018-12-10 | ND | |
| 2019-02-07 | 6.34 ppm | |
| 2019-03-26 | ND | |
| 2019-03-26 | 0.460 ppm | |
| 2019-03-26 | ND | |
| 2019-03-27 | 1.77 ppm | |
| 2019-04-02 | 0.660 ppm | |
| 2019-07-02 | ND | |
| 2019-07-02 | ND | |
| 2019-07-02 | ND | |
| 2019-07-02 | 2.07 ppm | |
| 2019-07-02 | 2.53 ppm | |
| 2019-07-02 | 4.35 ppm | |
| 2019-09-10 | 1.14 ppm | |
| 2019-10-08 | ND | |
| 2019-10-08 | 0.110 ppm | |
| 2019-10-09 | 0.0700 ppm | |
| 2019-11-12 | 2.12 ppm | |
| 2019-11-20 | 5.65 ppm | |
| 2019-12-03 | 0.240 ppm | |
| 2021-02-02 | 4070315 | 5.10 ppm |
| 2021-03-08 | 4082163 | ND |
| 2021-03-08 | 4082162 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2021-04-13 | 4097785 | 2.77 ppm |
| 2021-05-12 | 4109124 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2021-06-09 | 4218812 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2021-06-14 | 4125930 | ND |
| 2021-07-21 | 4146266 | ND |
| 2021-07-21 | 4146267 | 1.31 ppm |
| 2021-07-21 | 4146265 | ND |
| 2021-07-21 | 4146250 | ND |
| 2021-07-27 | 4146269 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2021-08-18 | 4167005 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2021-09-01 | 4167018 | ND |
| 2021-09-01 | 4167019 | ND |
| 2021-09-01 | 4167017 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2021-09-27 | 4176154 | 2.41 ppm |
| 2021-10-06 | 4186011 | ND |
| 2021-10-06 | 4186012 | ND |
| 2021-10-06 | 4186009 | ND |
| 2021-10-06 | 4186010 | 3.16 ppm |
| 2021-11-08 | 4201775 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2021-12-07 | 4245713 | ND |
| 2022-03-10 | 4256477 | 0.793 ppm |
| 2022-03-10 | 4256478 | ND |
| 2022-03-15 | 4252265 | ND |
| 2022-03-22 | 4261444 | ND |
| 2022-03-22 | 4261448 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2022-03-22 | 4261446 | ND |
| 2022-03-22 | 4261482 | ND |
| 2022-03-22 | 4261480 | 1.48 ppm |
| 2022-04-18 | 4266764 | 0.723 ppm |
| 2022-06-06 | 4288930 | ND |
| 2022-06-06 | 4288931 | 0.258 ppm |
| 2022-06-13 | 4290728 | 0.194 ppm |
| 2022-08-16 | 4330213 | ND |
| 2022-09-12 | 4355185 | 0.888 ppm |
| 2022-09-12 | 4344699 | ND |
| 2022-10-06 | 4355192 | ND |
| 2022-10-06 | 4354261 | ND |
| 2022-10-26 | 4361002 | ND |