Inorganic
Nitrite in your water
Is Nitrite in drinking water dangerous?
It depends on the level and how long you're exposed. The EPA legal limit (MCL) for Nitrite is 1 ppm, but health-based goals (EPA MCLG / WHO) are often stricter, at 0.14 ppm. Meeting the legal limit isn't the same as zero risk — test your water to know your level.
How do you remove Nitrite from water?
Nitrite is treated by Water Softener and Reverse Osmosis. Choose a system independently certified to NSF/ANSI standards to reduce Nitrite, and test your water first to confirm the level.
Source: EPA MCL / MCLG; WHO guidelines; NSF/ANSI · 2026
Health effects
Nitrite is a more reactive form of nitrogen pollution from the same sources as nitrate. It reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity and is most hazardous to infants. It usually appears alongside nitrate where contamination is present.
The health-based goal vs. the legal limit
The federal legal limit (MCL) is the maximum allowed by law. The health-based goal (EPA MCLG / WHO) is a health target — it is often stricter than the legal limit, and it is not itself a legal limit.
Health-based goal (EPA MCLG / WHO)
0.14 ppm
Federal legal limit (MCL)
1 ppm
Source: EPA MCL / MCLG; WHO guidelines · 2026
Not affiliated with or endorsed by EWG.
What removes Nitrite
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
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Is Nitrite in your water?
Check your city's public record, then book a free 30-minute test to confirm what's in your home.