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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

El Dorado 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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND20ND
20170.0500 ppm21ND - 0.1000 ppm
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-01-15140160047ND
2014-08-04142190038ND
2015-03-10Y150710004ND
2015-08-25Y152390005ND
2016-01-12Y160150025ND
2016-09-07Y162520034ND
2017-02-13Y170470009ND
2017-07-11Y1719300890.1000 ppm
2018-02-26Y180600009ND
2018-07-30Y182140005ND
2019-01-16Y190170028ND
2019-07-16Y191990007ND