Nitrite

New Britain Water Department

Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer.

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	0.00280 ppm	5	1	ND - 0.0140 ppm
2015	0.00104 ppm	5	2	ND - 0.00500 ppm
2016	0.00260 ppm	5	2	ND - 0.01000 ppm
2017	ND	5	0	ND
2018	ND	1	0	ND
2019	ND	5	0	ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1 ppm

The legal limit for nitrite, established in 1991, was based on the rate of conversion of ingested nitrate into nitrite in adults. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to nitrite exposure.

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2014-05-23	E405L07-2IOC1	0.0140 ppm
2014-05-23	E405L07-3IOC1	ND
2014-05-23	E405L07-4IOC1	ND
2014-05-23	E405L07-1IOC1	ND
2014-07-10	10079-02941NOX	ND
2015-05-21	7215-03328NOX	ND
2015-05-21	7217-03330NOX	ND
2015-05-21	7216-03329NOX	ND
2015-05-21	7218-03331NOX	0.00500 ppm
2015-06-22	9143-03275NOX	0.000200 ppm
2016-05-19	7547-03717NOX	ND
2016-05-19	7545-03715NOX	0.01000 ppm
2016-05-19	7546-03716NOX	ND
2016-05-19	7544-03714NOX	ND
2016-07-13	10611-03602NOX	0.00300 ppm
2017-05-16	5851-03846NOX	ND
2017-05-16	5853-03848NOX	ND
2017-05-16	5852-03847NOX	ND
2017-05-16	5854-03849NOX	ND
2017-07-11	8044-03895NOX	ND
2018-06-20	NOX 200497534	ND
2019-04-25	NOX 200529606	ND
2019-04-25	NOX 200529609	ND
2019-04-25	NOX 200529607	ND
2019-04-25	NOX 200529608	ND
2019-06-12	NOX 200535995	ND