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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Rector 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.

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
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
2014-01-27140300007ND
2014-01-27140300006ND
2014-01-27140300008ND
2015-02-03Y150360008ND
2015-02-03Y150360006ND
2015-02-03Y150360007ND
2016-02-16Y160490013ND
2016-02-16Y160490014ND
2017-01-10Y170120029ND
2017-01-10Y170120030ND
2018-01-09Y180120007ND
2018-01-09Y180120006ND
2019-02-19Y190520004ND
2019-02-19Y190520005ND