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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Maxbass, City of

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.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.380 ppm110.380 ppm
20150.0800 ppm110.0800 ppm
20160.200 ppm110.200 ppm
20170.120 ppm110.120 ppm
20180.0700 ppm110.0700 ppm
20190.0800 ppm110.0800 ppm

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
2014-07-0814-S13330.380 ppm
2015-03-0215-S3460.0800 ppm
2016-02-2216-S2400.200 ppm
2017-02-0617-S1880.120 ppm
2018-02-0618-S1600.0700 ppm
2019-02-1119-S1320.0800 ppm