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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Freeman Creek

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)

6

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.432 ppm110.432 ppm
20150.439 ppm110.439 ppm
20160.433 ppm110.433 ppm
20170.440 ppm110.440 ppm
20180.393 ppm110.393 ppm
20190.413 ppm110.413 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 Result
2014-09-090.432 ppm
2015-08-260.439 ppm
2016-06-140.433 ppm
2017-06-220.440 ppm
2018-06-120.393 ppm
2019-02-040.413 ppm