Nitrite
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2017-2019:
FOUND
FOUND ABOVE LEGAL LIMIT
44
states detected
1,526
utilities detected
31 million
people served
3
states over legal limit
3
utilities over legal limit
1,496
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for nitrite
Cancer
Harm to child development
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
States reporting nitrite in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Florida | 235 | 7,835,486 | |
| California | 79 | 6,906,641 | |
| Missouri | 43 | 2,539,306 | |
| Massachusetts | 66 | 2,372,023 | |
| Virginia | 32 | 2,282,325 | |
| Texas | 188 | 1,907,487 | |
| New Jersey | 14 | 1,019,781 | |
| Pennsylvania | 37 | 824,120 | |
| Iowa | 146 | 756,783 | |
| Connecticut | 55 | 684,107 | |
| Colorado | 29 | 452,310 | |
| Utah | 6 | 445,189 | |
| New York | 53 | 330,822 | |
| West Virginia | 95 | 292,243 | |
| Ohio | 36 | 289,009 | |
| Indiana | 6 | 286,858 | |
| Mississippi | 49 | 286,361 | |
| Oklahoma | 9 | 268,894 | |
| Alabama | 18 | 242,430 | |
| Oregon | 45 | 221,138 | |
| Idaho | 25 | 207,398 | |
| Michigan | 14 | 198,629 | |
| Illinois | 76 | 147,012 | |
| Arizona | 3 | 136,365 | |
| Wisconsin | 48 | 128,625 | |
| Washington | 21 | 103,016 | |
| Kentucky | 8 | 94,164 | |
| Kansas | 10 | 70,396 | |
| Nevada | 6 | 42,485 | |
| New Mexico | 1 | 33,006 | |
| New Hampshire | 4 | 14,443 | |
| South Dakota | 18 | 12,359 | |
| Rhode Island | 4 | 11,132 | |
| North Carolina | 10 | 9,412 | |
| Delaware | 5 | 7,424 | |
| Maryland | 4 | 6,943 | |
| Arkansas | 4 | 6,249 | |
| North Dakota | 5 | 6,209 | |
| Minnesota | 9 | 6,179 | |
| Louisiana | 2 | 3,150 | |
| Georgia | 1 | 1,360 | |
| Montana | 4 | 1,291 | |
| Maine | 1 | 475 | |
| Wyoming | 2 | 235 | |
MORE
LESS
Filtering technologies that reduce nitrite
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Utilities with the highest amounts of nitrite, 2017-2019
ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amalga Town Water System* | Amalga, UT | 2 of 2 | 4.09 ppm | 495 |
| Sunset Park Water Company | Tremonton, UT | 1 of 1 | 2.90 ppm | 44 |
| Paradise Town Water System | Paradise, UT | 2 of 2 | 2.25 ppm | 920 |
| Mayfield Town Water System* | Mayfield, UT | 1 of 1 | 2.20 ppm | 511 |
| Iskcon - New Vrindaban | Moundsville, WV | 1 of 1 | 1.60 ppm | 184 |
| Churdan Water Supply | Churdan, IA | 11 of 11 | 1.59 ppm | 386 |
| Goldston`s Mobile Home Park | Ramseur, NC | 1 of 2 | 1.35 ppm | 43 |
| Chrisman | Chrisman, IL | 19 of 26 | 1.25 ppm | 1,200 |
| Cisco | Cisco, IL | 23 of 24 | 0.832 ppm | 300 |
| Atlanta | Atlanta, IL | 42 of 50 | 0.806 ppm | 1,692 |
| Meadow Bridge Town Of | Meadow Bridge, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.790 ppm | 551 |
| Palm Lake Estates North | Riviera Beach, FL | 1 of 1 | 0.775 ppm | 480 |
| Danese Psd | Danese, WV | 1 of 2 | 0.750 ppm | 2,210 |
| Bradshaw Water Works | Bradshaw, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.750 ppm | 233 |
| Southfork Association | Walford, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.740 ppm | 28 |
| North Stewart Utility District | Dover, TN | 1 of 1 | 0.740 ppm | 5,550 |
| Belmont, City Of | Belmont, WV | 5 of 5 | 0.734 ppm | 1,048 |
| Bismarck Community Water District | Bismarck, IL | 16 of 18 | 0.719 ppm | 900 |
| Palm Lake Estates South | Riviera Bch, FL | 1 of 1 | 0.682 ppm | 700 |
| Spin Lake Homeowners Association Inc. | Danvers, IL | 9 of 10 | 0.635 ppm | 200 |
| Beech Bottom Water Department | Beech Bottom, WV | 3 of 4 | 0.615 ppm | 610 |
| Garden City | Garden City, SD | 4 of 4 | 0.605 ppm | 53 |
| Greenwood Colony | Delmont, SD | 2 of 5 | 0.592 ppm | 80 |
| Marquez Rental | Firebaugh, CA | 1 of 2 | 0.550 ppm | 50 |
| Pell City Water Works | Pell City, AL | 3 of 4 | 0.535 ppm | 15,402 |
| Pine Manor Mobile Home Park | Spencer, NY | 1 of 6 | 0.513 ppm | 180 |
| Grant Colony | Enderlin, ND | 1 of 1 | 0.513 ppm | 25 |
| Benwood Water Department | Benwood, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppm | 1,510 |
| Marshall County Psd 2* | Moundsville, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.490 ppm | 1,601 |
| Mcdowell County Psd Bartley | Welch, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.480 ppm | 1,632 |
| Sky Line Village Mobile Home Park | Martinsburg, WV | 5 of 6 | 0.470 ppm | 120 |
| Hundred Littleton Psd | Hundred, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.470 ppm | 638 |
| Hillview Mobile Home Park | Spencer, NY | 1 of 6 | 0.468 ppm | 105 |
| Kern Valley State Prison | Delano, CA | 37 of 108 | 0.449 ppm | 5,300 |
| Pleasant City, Village of | Pleasant City, OH | 18 of 23 | 0.448 ppm | 900 |
| Parkview Acres | Zephyrhills, FL | 1 of 7 | 0.443 ppm | 190 |
| Maroa | Maroa, IL | 18 of 18 | 0.430 ppm | 1,700 |
| Cottonwood Creek Mobile Home Park | Glenn Heights, TX | 20 of 25 | 0.428 ppm | 228 |
| Brocton | Brocton, IL | 16 of 16 | 0.424 ppm | 350 |
| Four States Psd | Worthington, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.420 ppm | 363 |
| Coons Run Psd | West Milford, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.420 ppm | 927 |
| Monongah Town Of* | Monongah, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.420 ppm | 3,171 |
| Farmington Town Of* | Farmington, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.420 ppm | 713 |
| Culver Water Department | Culver, IN | 1 of 1 | 0.412 ppm | 1,391 |
| Paden City, City Of | Paden City, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.410 ppm | 2,985 |
| Lexington | Lexington, IL | 14 of 24 | 0.405 ppm | 1,930 |
| Coyne Center Co-op | Milan, IL | 24 of 24 | 0.401 ppm | 150 |
| War Water Works City Realty | War, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.400 ppm | 942 |
| Charles Town Utl-glen Haven Utilities | Kearneysville, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.400 ppm | 195 |
| Creekbridge Mutual Water Company | Hollister, CA | 2 of 2 | 0.400 ppm | 65 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Nitrite, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pell City Water Works | Pell City, AL | 3 of 4 | 0.535 ppm | 15,402 |
| Charles Town Utilities | Kearneysville, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.340 ppm | 14,488 |
| City of Vienna* | Vienna, WV | 2 of 3 | 0.293 ppm | 12,507 |
| South Putnam PSD* | Scott Depot, WV | 1 of 1 | 0.290 ppm | 21,719 |
| Davie Town of #3 & #5* | Davie/hollywood, FL | 16 of 20 | 0.240 ppm | 26,000 |
| City of Deer Park | Deer Park, TX | 6 of 6 | 0.222 ppm | 32,964 |
| El Monte Water Department | El Monte, CA | 4 of 22 | 0.213 ppm | 22,968 |
| City of Greenfield | Greenfield, CA | 32 of 60 | 0.183 ppm | 17,898 |
| Lansing Board of Water & Light* | Lansing, MI | 1 of 1 | 0.180 ppm | 166,000 |
| Delta Charter Township | Otisville, MI | 1 of 1 | 0.180 ppm | 22,000 |
| US Army Aviation and Missile Command | Redstone Arsenal, AL | 4 of 10 | 0.151 ppm | 38,700 |
| Bridgestone MUD | Houston, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.147 ppm | 18,922 |
| Carlsbad Municipal Water System | Carlsbad, NM | 2 of 7 | 0.141 ppm | 33,006 |
| Leavenworth Water Department* | Leavenworth, KS | 1 of 1 | 0.140 ppm | 36,062 |
| Fort Leavenworth American Water Ent Inc | Fort Leavenworth, KS | 1 of 1 | 0.140 ppm | 12,934 |
| Beckley Water Company* | Beckley, WV | 1 of 2 | 0.125 ppm | 49,058 |
| City of Soledad | Soledad, CA | 6 of 12 | 0.125 ppm | 16,729 |
| Broward County Water and Wastewater Services (BCWWS) - 2A* | Pompano Beach, FL | 2 of 10 | 0.121 ppm | 54,622 |
| City of Coconut Creek | Coconut Creek, FL | 2 of 10 | 0.121 ppm | 54,000 |
| Englewood Water District* | Englewood, FL | 5 of 8 | 0.110 ppm | 38,005 |
| Indianola Water Supply* | Indianola, IA | 2 of 4 | 0.110 ppm | 14,782 |
| City of Watauga | Watauga, TX | 3 of 7 | 0.100 ppm | 24,543 |
| Bethesda WSC | Burleson, TX | 12 of 37 | 0.0976 ppm | 31,452 |
| City of Morgan Hill | Morgan Hill, CA | 6 of 23 | 0.0957 ppm | 41,779 |
| Fernley Public Works | Fernely, NV | 1 of 4 | 0.0950 ppm | 19,790 |
| Rockett SUD* | Red Oak, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.0937 ppm | 37,038 |
| Galveston County WCID 1 | Dickinson, TX | 13 of 34 | 0.0856 ppm | 29,280 |
| City of Seabrook* | Seabrook, TX | 20 of 27 | 0.0848 ppm | 12,792 |
| City of Carrollton | Carrollton, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.0820 ppm | 127,980 |
| Okeechobee Utility Authority | Okeechobee, FL | 26 of 56 | 0.0819 ppm | 20,000 |
| Lakeside WD* | Lakeside, CA | 2 of 12 | 0.0756 ppm | 42,200 |
| Delray Beach Water Department* | Delray Beach, FL | 7 of 9 | 0.0748 ppm | 60,200 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority* | Jefferson, PA | 35 of 79 | 0.0734 ppm | 40,000 |
| City of Pasadena* | Pasadena, TX | 27 of 32 | 0.0733 ppm | 153,000 |
| City of La Porte | La Porte, TX | 1 of 7 | 0.0700 ppm | 34,733 |
| City of Lewisville* | Lewisville, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.0700 ppm | 104,780 |
| City of Desoto | Desoto, TX | 14 of 19 | 0.0697 ppm | 51,700 |
| Clearwater Water System | Clearwater, FL | 20 of 49 | 0.0680 ppm | 110,000 |
| WA of Great Neck North | Great Neck, NY | 2 of 72 | 0.0669 ppm | 31,400 |
| Woodbury | Woodbury, MN | 1 of 2 | 0.0650 ppm | 72,000 |
| Denton County Fresh Water Supply District 1-a Castle Hills | Lewisville, TX | 15 of 26 | 0.0643 ppm | 15,741 |
| City of Henderson* | Henderson, TX | 2 of 6 | 0.0642 ppm | 13,712 |
| Del Oro Water Company - Paradise Pines | Chico, CA | 7 of 11 | 0.0636 ppm | 11,405 |
| Carroll Municipal Water Supply | Carroll, IA | 2 of 6 | 0.0633 ppm | 10,103 |
| Peabody Water Department (MWRA) | Peabody, MA | 370 of 595 | 0.0632 ppm | 52,474 |
| Troy City PWS* | Troy, OH | 1 of 7 | 0.0629 ppm | 27,000 |
| City of Keller | Keller, TX | 5 of 15 | 0.0623 ppm | 44,620 |
| City of Pocatello | Pocatello, ID | 7 of 17 | 0.0612 ppm | 56,266 |
| Birmingham Water Works Board* | Birmingham, AL | 3 of 20 | 0.0600 ppm | 585,000 |
| Washington Township MUA | Turnersville, NJ | 1 of 1 | 0.0600 ppm | 48,000 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Nitrite, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.