Chlorite
El Paso Water Utilities
Chlorite is a disinfection byproduct resulting from water treatment with chlorine dioxide. Chlorite decreases hemoglobin levels and causes other hematologic effects. Read More.
Chlorite also forms when chlorine dioxide is used as a bleaching agent for textiles, paper pulp, flour and oils, and from the use of chlorine dioxide in food and packaging.� In 2009, California published a public health goal of 50 parts per billion for chlorite in drinking water. California state scientists reported that chlorite causes red blood cell damage, affects sperm and thyroid function, and may alter behavior and neurodevelopment of rat pups exposed in the womb.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 352.6 ppb | 8 | 8 | 133.0 ppb - 558.0 ppb |
| 2015 | 3.08 ppb | 12 | 3 | ND - 16.0 ppb |
| 2016 | 15.0 ppb | 21 | 7 | ND - 132.0 ppb |
| 2017 | 48.3 ppb | 21 | 14 | ND - 138.0 ppb |
| 2018 | 3.75 ppb | 24 | 2 | ND - 59.2 ppb |
| 2019 | 3.48 ppb | 15 | 3 | ND - 19.9 ppb |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 50 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 50 ppb for chlorite was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against change in blood chemistry.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1,000 ppb
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-07-25 | 14-24284 | 345.0 ppb |
| 2014-07-25 | 14-24282 | 145.0 ppb |
| 2014-07-25 | 14-24283 | 550.0 ppb |
| 2014-07-25 | 14-24285 | 340.0 ppb |
| 2014-08-20 | 14-27419 | 369.0 ppb |
| 2014-08-20 | 14-27418 | 558.0 ppb |
| 2014-08-20 | 14-27420 | 381.0 ppb |
| 2014-08-20 | 14-27417 | 133.0 ppb |
| 2015-06-26 | 15-19920 | ND |
| 2015-06-26 | 15-19919 | ND |
| 2015-06-26 | 15-19918 | ND |
| 2015-07-17 | 15-22991 | ND |
| 2015-07-17 | 15-22990 | ND |
| 2015-07-17 | 15-22989 | ND |
| 2015-08-07 | 15-26448 | 16.0 ppb |
| 2015-08-07 | 15-26449 | ND |
| 2015-08-07 | 15-26447 | 10.00 ppb |
| 2015-09-18 | 15-31093 | 11.0 ppb |
| 2015-09-18 | 15-31094 | ND |
| 2015-09-18 | 15-31092 | ND |
| 2016-04-22 | 16-12180 | ND |
| 2016-04-22 | 16-12181 | 75.0 ppb |
| 2016-04-22 | 16-12182 | ND |
| 2016-05-13 | 16-15873 | ND |
| 2016-05-13 | 16-15872 | 132.0 ppb |
| 2016-05-13 | 16-15871 | ND |
| 2016-06-13 | 16-19587 | 26.0 ppb |
| 2016-06-13 | 16-19588 | 29.0 ppb |
| 2016-06-13 | 16-19586 | ND |
| 2016-07-15 | 16-24278 | 28.0 ppb |
| 2016-07-15 | 16-24276 | ND |
| 2016-07-15 | 16-24277 | ND |
| 2016-08-23 | 16-30188 | 13.0 ppb |
| 2016-08-23 | 16-30187 | ND |
| 2016-08-23 | 16-30186 | ND |
| 2016-09-02 | 16-31931 | ND |
| 2016-09-02 | 16-31930 | ND |
| 2016-09-02 | 16-031932 | 12.0 ppb |
| 2016-10-01 | 16-34709 | ND |
| 2016-10-01 | 16-34708 | ND |
| 2016-10-01 | 16-34707 | ND |
| 2017-04-27 | 17-30185 | ND |
| 2017-04-27 | 17-30187 | ND |
| 2017-04-27 | 17-30186 | ND |
| 2017-05-11 | 17-32323 | 31.3 ppb |
| 2017-05-11 | 17-32324 | 49.4 ppb |
| 2017-05-11 | 17-32322 | ND |
| 2017-06-23 | 17-37787 | 69.1 ppb |
| 2017-06-23 | 17-37788 | 106.0 ppb |
| 2017-06-23 | 17-37786 | ND |
| 2017-07-14 | 17-40784 | 138.0 ppb |
| 2017-07-14 | 17-40783 | ND |
| 2017-07-14 | 17-40785 | 69.8 ppb |
| 2017-08-18 | 17-44905 | 65.3 ppb |
| 2017-08-18 | 17-44904 | ND |
| 2017-08-18 | 17-44906 | 83.6 ppb |
| 2017-09-26 | 17-49647 | 87.8 ppb |
| 2017-09-26 | 17-49646 | 108.0 ppb |
| 2017-09-26 | 17-49645 | 60.8 ppb |
| 2017-10-02 | 17-50514 | 62.6 ppb |
| 2017-10-02 | 17-50513 | 57.9 ppb |
| 2017-10-02 | 17-50512 | 25.2 ppb |
| 2018-03-28 | 18-09164 | ND |
| 2018-03-28 | 18-09165 | ND |
| 2018-03-28 | 18-09166 | ND |
| 2018-04-20 | 18-11430 | ND |
| 2018-04-20 | 18-11429 | ND |
| 2018-04-20 | 18-11431 | ND |
| 2018-05-18 | 18-16369 | ND |
| 2018-05-18 | 18-16368 | ND |
| 2018-05-18 | 18-16370 | ND |
| 2018-06-08 | 18-19251 | ND |
| 2018-06-08 | 18-19248 | ND |
| 2018-06-08 | 18-19250 | ND |
| 2018-07-03 | 18-22229 | ND |
| 2018-07-03 | 18-22230 | ND |
| 2018-07-03 | 18-22228 | ND |
| 2018-08-28 | 18-29013 | ND |
| 2018-08-28 | 18-29014 | ND |
| 2018-08-28 | 18-29012 | ND |
| 2018-09-06 | 18-29911 | ND |
| 2018-09-06 | 18-29909 | ND |
| 2018-09-06 | 18-29910 | ND |
| 2018-10-01 | 18-33086 | ND |
| 2018-10-01 | 18-33087 | 30.8 ppb |
| 2018-10-01 | 18-33088 | 59.2 ppb |
| 2019-06-27 | 19-20272 | ND |
| 2019-06-27 | 19-20271 | ND |
| 2019-06-27 | 19-20270 | ND |
| 2019-07-25 | 19-23945 | ND |
| 2019-07-25 | 19-23944 | ND |
| 2019-07-25 | 19-23943 | ND |
| 2019-08-16 | 19-26648 | ND |
| 2019-08-16 | 19-26647 | ND |
| 2019-08-16 | 19-26646 | ND |
| 2019-09-13 | 19-30129 | ND |
| 2019-09-13 | 19-30128 | 13.6 ppb |
| 2019-09-13 | 19-30127 | ND |
| 2019-10-04 | 19-32728 | 18.7 ppb |
| 2019-10-04 | 19-32727 | 19.9 ppb |
| 2019-10-04 | 19-32726 | ND |