Nitrate and nitrite

Douglas, City Of

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	0.533 ppm	6	4	ND - 0.800 ppm
2015	0.425 ppm	4	2	ND - 0.900 ppm
2016	0.600 ppm	3	3	0.1000 ppm - 0.900 ppm
2017	0.647 ppm	3	3	0.0600 ppm - 1.000 ppm
2018	0.885 ppm	2	2	0.800 ppm - 0.970 ppm
2019	N/A	0	0	N/A

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
2014-09-09	C14090332-001 N	ND
2014-09-09	C14090332-001C	ND
2014-09-16	C14090596-002 N	0.800 ppm
2014-09-16	C14090596-001A	0.800 ppm
2014-09-16	C14090596-002A	0.800 ppm
2014-09-16	C14090596-001 N	0.800 ppm
2015-08-11	C15080383-001E	ND
2015-08-11	C15080383-001 N	ND
2015-09-28	C15090967-001A	0.800 ppm
2015-11-09	C15110321-001A	0.900 ppm
2016-08-11	C16080516-001A	0.900 ppm
2016-08-11	C16080516-002A	0.800 ppm
2016-08-11	C16080516-003A	0.1000 ppm
2017-09-07	C17090231-001A	0.0600 ppm
2017-09-12	C17090344-001A	0.880 ppm
2017-10-10	C17100374-001A	1.000 ppm
2018-07-17	C18070629-002A	0.800 ppm
2018-07-17	C18070629-001A	0.970 ppm