Inorganic
Nitrate in your water
Is Nitrate in drinking water dangerous?
It depends on the level and how long you're exposed. The EPA legal limit (MCL) for Nitrate is 10 ppm. The EPA also sets a non-enforceable health goal (MCLG) of 10 ppm. Meeting the legal limit isn't the same as zero risk — test your water to know your level.
How do you remove Nitrate from water?
Nitrate is treated by Water Softener and Reverse Osmosis. Choose a system independently certified to NSF/ANSI standards to reduce Nitrate, and test your water first to confirm the level.
Source: EPA MCL / MCLG; WHO guidelines; NSF/ANSI · 2026
Health effects
Nitrate enters water mainly from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and animal waste. High levels can interfere with the blood's ability to carry oxygen, a special danger for infants. Long-term low-level exposure has also been linked to elevated cancer risk in some studies.
The health-based goal vs. the legal limit
The federal legal limit (MCL) is the maximum allowed by law. The EPA health goal (MCLG) is the level below which no health risk is expected — it is non-enforceable and often stricter than the legal limit.
EPA health goal (MCLG)
10 ppm
Federal legal limit (MCL)
10 ppm
Source: EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (MCL / MCLG) · 2026
What removes Nitrate
Ion exchange
Water Softener
Swaps the calcium and magnesium that cause hard water for sodium — so scale stops forming.
Look for: NSF/ANSI 44 certification
How it works→Semipermeable membrane filtration
Reverse Osmosis
Pushes water through a fine membrane that removes the dissolved solids most filters miss.
Look for: NSF/ANSI 58 certification
How it works→Where Nitrate has been found
Nitrate shows up in the public water record for these cities. Each page has the measured level, the legal limit, and what removes it.
- 1
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Is Nitrate in your water?
Check your city's public record, then book a free 30-minute test to confirm what's in your home.