Nitrate and nitrite

Mahwah Water Department

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	0.760 ppm	4	4	0.550 ppm - 1.02 ppm
2015	N/A	0	0	N/A
2016	0.723 ppm	4	4	0.522 ppm - 0.962 ppm
2017	0.795 ppm	4	4	0.588 ppm - 1.10 ppm
2018	0.805 ppm	4	4	0.529 ppm - 1.11 ppm
2019	0.889 ppm	4	4	0.605 ppm - 1.26 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
2014-08-29	L5220198-1	0.570 ppm
2014-08-29	L5220198-4	0.550 ppm
2014-08-29	L5220198-2	1.02 ppm
2014-08-29	L5220198-3	0.900 ppm
2016-08-17	360817145	0.546 ppm
2016-08-17	360817142	0.522 ppm
2016-08-17	360817143	0.962 ppm
2016-08-17	360817144	0.862 ppm
2017-07-19	370719152	0.594 ppm
2017-07-19	370719149	0.588 ppm
2017-07-19	370719150	1.10 ppm
2017-07-19	370719151	0.899 ppm
2018-09-12	380912047	0.625 ppm
2018-09-12	380912044	0.529 ppm
2018-09-12	380912046	0.956 ppm
2018-09-12	380912045	1.11 ppm
2019-08-14	390814159	0.692 ppm
2019-08-14	390814161	1.26 ppm
2019-08-14	390814160	1.000 ppm
2019-08-14	390814158	0.605 ppm