Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Nitrite

California American Water Company - Monterey

Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

56

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND70ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND210ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND220ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1 ppm

The legal limit for nitrite, established in 1991, was based on the rate of conversion of ingested nitrate into nitrite in adults. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to nitrite exposure.

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-211225-089-1140ND
2014-01-221225-092-1145ND
2014-04-081225-082-1125ND
2014-04-241225-092-1005ND
2014-04-291225-089-1030ND
2014-05-051225-079-1420ND
2014-12-231225-085-0915ND
2015-02-101225-085-1330ND
2015-04-091225-082-0935ND
2016-01-121225-046-1355ND
2016-01-205810-087-1055ND
2016-02-081225-044-1230ND
2016-02-081225-045-1200ND
2016-02-081225-017-1000ND
2016-02-081225-016-1030ND
2016-02-081225-047-1100ND
2016-04-061225-024-1410ND
2016-04-071225-082-1010ND
2016-04-191225-029-1000ND
2016-04-191225-051-1100ND
2016-04-261225-048-1115ND
2016-05-121225-052-1010ND
2016-06-071225-026-1045ND
2016-06-071225-073-1020ND
2016-06-071225-072-1000ND
2016-06-081225-074-1315ND
2016-06-081225-006-1300ND
2016-06-081225-002-1330ND
2016-08-221225-070-1010ND
2016-08-291225-050-1215ND
2017-03-141225-085-1300ND
2017-04-251225-082-1049ND
2018-05-011225-082-0920ND
2018-07-091225-070-1005ND
2019-01-151225-085-1545ND
2019-02-071225-017-1300ND
2019-02-071225-047-1515ND
2019-02-071225-044-1650ND
2019-02-071225-045-1710ND
2019-02-071225-016-1335ND
2019-02-071225-046-1430ND
2019-03-191225-051-1230ND
2019-03-191225-029-1330ND
2019-03-201225-024-1228ND
2019-03-211225-050-1415ND
2019-04-221225-073-1600ND
2019-04-221225-072-1640ND
2019-04-221225-087-1630ND
2019-04-241225-006-1400ND
2019-04-241225-002-1430ND
2019-04-241225-074-1450ND
2019-04-241225-052-1330ND
2019-05-061225-082-1350ND
2019-07-241225-048-1420ND
2019-08-071225-026-1230ND
2019-08-081225-070-1530ND