Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Corporation Of Shepherdstown

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.

 

5

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

5

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20181.24 ppm111.24 ppm
2019N/A00N/A
20200.850 ppm110.850 ppm
20210.680 ppm110.680 ppm
20220.880 ppm110.880 ppm
20230.420 ppm110.420 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
2018-08-1318082132-02A1.24 ppm
2020-08-1073381630060.850 ppm
2021-08-0973835280050.680 ppm
2022-08-08305127310060.880 ppm
2023-08-07306115350010.420 ppm