Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Galesville 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.

 

4

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A
20200.123 ppm220.0160 ppm - 0.229 ppm
2021N/A00N/A
2022N/A00N/A
20230.0110 ppm220.00800 ppm - 0.0140 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
2020-09-1520I0540-010.0160 ppm
2020-09-1520I0540-020.229 ppm
2023-03-2823C0847-010.0140 ppm
2023-04-0423D0074-010.00800 ppm