Nitrate and nitrite

Acton MUD

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.260 ppm	5	5	0.127 ppm - 0.311 ppm
2015	0.309 ppm	15	15	0.0530 ppm - 1.72 ppm
2016	N/A	0	0	N/A
2017	N/A	0	0	N/A
2018	N/A	0	0	N/A
2019	0.186 ppm	4	4	0.0240 ppm - 0.243 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
2014-04-16	Q1412086007	0.304 ppm
2014-04-16	Q1412086006	0.311 ppm
2014-04-17	Q1412419009	0.275 ppm
2014-04-17	Q1412419008	0.127 ppm
2014-04-17	Q1412419007	0.284 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919037	0.168 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919043	0.231 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919042	0.341 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919041	0.0900 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919040	0.192 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919039	0.0530 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919038	0.390 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919036	0.398 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919035	0.0980 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919034	0.102 ppm
2015-10-27	Q1542321005	0.284 ppm
2015-10-27	Q1542321004	0.286 ppm
2015-10-27	Q1542321003	0.172 ppm
2015-10-27	Q1542321002	0.112 ppm
2015-10-27	Q1542321001	1.72 ppm
2019-03-26	Q1912275018	0.243 ppm
2019-03-26	Q1912275020	0.237 ppm
2019-03-26	Q1912275019	0.238 ppm
2019-03-26	Q1912275001	0.0240 ppm