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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Whitewater Waterworks

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.

 

10

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.0830 ppm53ND - 0.320 ppm
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
20170.0880 ppm52ND - 0.310 ppm
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A

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
2014-03-04773573ND
2014-03-04773574ND
2014-03-047735720.0300 ppm
2014-07-318074620.0650 ppm
2014-07-318074570.320 ppm
2017-03-06976081ND
2017-03-06976084ND
2017-03-06976083ND
2017-03-069760800.130 ppm
2017-03-069760820.310 ppm