Nitrite in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Like nitrate, nitrite is most dangerous for infants under 6 months, causing methemoglobinemia. Short-term exposure is the primary concern. Nitrite is typically found at lower levels than nitrate since bacteria quickly convert nitrite to nitrate.
📍 Sources in Water
Comes from the same sources as nitrate: fertilizer runoff, animal waste, and septic systems. It can also form in water distribution systems when nitrifying bacteria break down chloramine disinfectants.
✅ What To Do
Do not give elevated-nitrite water to infants or use it to mix formula. Boiling concentrates nitrite rather than removing it. Use bottled water or reverse osmosis filtration for infant feeding.
Check your tap water for Nitrite
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Nitrite violations, plus lead testing results and an overall safety grade.
Search your ZIP code →Data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). MCLs reflect minimum federal standards; some contaminants may pose health risks below these thresholds.