Parameter Viewer

Document ID ca-gcdwqgtd-2014-08-27 Title Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document - Nitrate and Nitrite URL https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-nitrate-nitrite/page-2-guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-nitrate-nitrite.html Jurisdiction /ca Subdomain(s) Drinking water, Water treatment, Water quality standards Language en Status completed Analyzed at 2026-03-18 15:16:56.634550+00:00 Relevance Sets MACs for nitrate/nitrite and discusses treatment technologies.
18 Qualitative 11 Quantitative 0 Definitions

Q Qualitative Requirements (18)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Context Conditions Confidence
#Q001monitoringoperationalmandatoryResidential Ion Exchange Monitoringdrinking waterIon exchange technology can also be used, but finished water quality must be monitored regularly to ensure the process is working effectively and that no break-through of nitrate is occurring.When using ion exchange technology at the residential scalehigh
#Q002administrativeunknownrecommendedImplementation Guidance Sourcingdrinking waterSpecific guidance related to the implementation of drinking water guidelines should be obtained from the appropriate drinking water authority in the affected jurisdiction.high
#Q003operationalhealthrecommendedALARA Principle for Nitratedrinking waterHowever, it is recommended that levels be kept as low as reasonably practicable to account for (1) the lack of studies on thyroid effects in the most sensitive subpopulation; (2) the significance of the potential health effect in infants (neuro-developmental) related to thyroid effects; and (3) the fact that ingested nitrate under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans.high
#Q004operationaloperationalrecommendedGood Operational Practices for Chloraminationdrinking waterUtilities that are chloraminating, as well as utilities with ammonia in the source water, should ensure good operational practices, such as limiting excess free ammonia entering the distribution system to concentrations below 0.1 mg/L, and preferably below 0.05 mg/L (measured as nitrogen), will help prevent nitrification.Utilities that are chloraminating, as well as utilities with ammonia in the source waterhigh
#Q005operationaloperationalrecommendedChlorine to Ammonia Ratio Maintenancedrinking waterUtilities using ammonia as part of their disinfection strategy should ensure that the appropriate chlorine to ammonia ratio is maintained.Utilities using ammonia as part of their disinfection strategyhigh
#Q006monitoringhealthrecommendedWell Water Testingdrinking waterHomeowners with a well should test concentrations of nitrate and of nitrite in their water supply.Homeowners with a wellhigh
#Q007prohibitionhealthrecommendedInfant Formula Preparation Prohibitiondrinking waterWater containing levels of nitrate and/or nitrite above the MACs should not be used to prepare formula or other foods for infants.Water containing levels of nitrate and/or nitrite above the MACshigh
#Q008corrective_actionhealthrecommendedCorrective Actions for High Nitrate/Nitritedrinking waterHomeowners that have nitrate or nitrite test results consistently above the MACs should consider installing a drinking water treatment device, using an alternative drinking water source, or relocating or drilling a deeper well that has been tested or verified and deemed to be a safe supply.Homeowners that have nitrate or nitrite test results consistently above the MACshigh
#Q009monitoringhealthrecommendedRoutine Monitoring in Vulnerable Areasdrinking waterRoutine monitoring of nitrate and nitrite in surface water and groundwater is recommended in agricultural areas and other areas where discharges of nitrogen compounds may occur.In agricultural areas and other areas where discharges of nitrogen compounds may occurhigh
#Q010monitoringoperationalrecommendedContinuous Monitoring for Nitrate Treatmentdrinking waterIt is recommended that utilities that treat their water to remove nitrate conduct continuous monitoring and recording of nitrate concentrations in both source and treated water.Utilities that treat their water to remove nitratehigh
#Q011monitoringoperationalrecommendedDaily Monitoring Alternative for Nitrate Treatmentdrinking waterAlternatively, it is recommended that utilities measure and record the treated water nitrate concentrations daily, during a period when treatment operations are likely to result in the highest concentrations (such as just prior to regeneration of an ion exchange unit).Utilities that treat their water to remove nitrate (as an alternative to continuous monitoring)high
#Q012monitoringoperationalrecommendedRoutine Nitrite Monitoringdrinking waterIn cases where nitrite has been detected in the source water or where utilities are using biological denitrification treatment processes, it is recommended that routine monitoring of nitrite in the source and treated water be conducted in addition to nitrate monitoring.Where nitrite has been detected in the source water or where utilities are using biological denitrification treatment processeshigh
#Q013monitoringoperationalrecommendedNitrite and Nitrate Monitoring with Ammoniadrinking waterUtilities that are chloraminating, as well as utilities with ammonia in the source water, should also monitor for nitrite and nitrate since ammonia entering the distribution system can be one of the causative factors of nitrification.Utilities that are chloraminating, as well as utilities with ammonia in the source waterhigh
#Q014monitoringoperationalrecommendedNitrification Monitoring Programdrinking waterMonitoring of nitrite and nitrate should be done in addition to other parameters such as free ammonia, total chlorine residual and heterotrophic plate count, at key locations in the distribution system as part of a nitrification monitoring program.As part of a nitrification monitoring programhigh
#Q015monitoringoperationalrecommendedWeekly Distribution System Monitoringdrinking waterIt is recommended that locations such as entry points, reservoir outlets, and areas with long water detention times (e.g., dead ends) be monitored for nitrite and nitrate weekly.Locations such as entry points, reservoir outlets, and areas with long water detention timeshigh
#Q016monitoringoperationalguidanceReduced Monitoring Frequencydrinking waterUtilities that undertake comprehensive preventive measures and have baseline data indicating that nitrification does not occur in the system may conduct less frequent nitrate and nitrite monitoring.Utilities that undertake comprehensive preventive measures and have baseline data indicating that nitrification does not occur in the systemhigh
#Q017monitoringhealthrecommendedPrivate Supply Testingdrinking waterOwners of private supplies are also encouraged to have their water tested for nitrate and nitrite periodically.Owners of private supplieshigh
#Q018monitoringhealthrecommendedAnnual Testing for Shallow Wellsdrinking waterShallow wells that are located in agricultural areas are particularly susceptible to nitrate and nitrite contamination and it is recommended that homeowners with these types of wells test their water for nitrate and nitrite at least once a year either in the spring or fall, when nitrate concentrations are typically the highest.Homeowners with shallow wells located in agricultural areashigh

P Quantitative Requirements (11)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Limit Type Limit Value Context Conditions Confidence
#P001chemicalhealthmandatoryNitratedrinking waterMAC45 mg/LThe maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for nitrate in drinking water is 45 mg/L.Applies to drinking water to be protective of the health of the most sensitive subpopulation, bottle-fed infants.high
#P002chemicalhealthmandatoryNitrate (measured as nitrate-nitrogen)drinking waterMAC10 mg/LThis is equivalent to 10 mg/L measured as nitrate-nitrogen.Equivalent value to the 45 mg/L Nitrate MAC.high
#P003chemicalhealthmandatoryNitritedrinking waterMAC3 mg/LThe MAC for nitrite in drinking water is 3 mg/L.Applies to drinking water to be protective of the health of the most sensitive subpopulation, bottle-fed infants.high
#P004chemicalhealthmandatoryNitrite (measured as nitrite-nitrogen)drinking waterMAC1 mg/LThis is equivalent to 1 mg/L measured as nitrite-nitrogen.Equivalent value to the 3 mg/L Nitrite MAC.high
#P005chemicaloperationalrecommendedFree ammoniadrinking waterOG< 0.1 mg/LUtilities that are chloraminating, as well as utilities with ammonia in the source water, should ensure good operational practices, such as limiting excess free ammonia entering the distribution system to concentrations below 0.1 mg/LIn municipal systems with a water source containing naturally occurring ammonia or that add ammonia for chloraminationhigh
#P006chemicaloperationalrecommendedFree ammonia (preferred limit)drinking waterOG< 0.05 mg/Lpreferably below 0.05 mg/L (measured as nitrogen)In municipal systems with a water source containing naturally occurring ammonia or that add ammonia for chloraminationhigh
#P007designtreatmentguidanceNitrate (Treatment Performance Goal)drinking watertreatment_goal22 mg/LAvailable treatment methods can consistently achieve levels as low as 22 mg/L (equivalent to 5 mg/L as nitrate-nitrogen).For municipal water supplies using ion exchange, biological denitrification, reverse osmosis, or electrodialysis.high
#P008designtreatmentguidanceNitrate-Nitrogen (Treatment Performance Goal)drinking watertreatment_goal5 mg/LEquivalent to 5 mg/L as nitrate-nitrogen.For municipal water supplies using ion exchange, biological denitrification, reverse osmosis, or electrodialysis.high
#P009operationaloperationalrecommendedPrivate well testing frequency (nitrate and nitrite)drinking waterrequirement>= 1 time/yearShallow wells that are located in agricultural areas are particularly susceptible to nitrate and nitrite contamination and it is recommended that homeowners with these types of wells test their water for nitrate and nitrite at least once a year.Shallow wells located in agricultural areashigh
#P010operationaloperationalrecommendedNitrification monitoring frequency (nitrite and nitrate)drinking waterrequirement1 time/weekIt is recommended that locations such as entry points, reservoir outlets, and areas with long water detention times (e.g., dead ends) be monitored for nitrite and nitrate weekly.Utilities that are chloraminating or have ammonia in source waterhigh
#P011operationaloperationalrecommendedTreated water nitrate monitoring frequency (manual alternative)drinking waterrequirement1 time/dayAlternatively, it is recommended that utilities measure and record the treated water nitrate concentrations daily, during a period when treatment operations are likely to result in the highest concentrations.Utilities treating water to remove nitrate that do not conduct continuous monitoringhigh

D Definitions (0)

No definitions.