Is my tap water safe to drink in Connecticut?

It depends on your ZIP code and who lives in your home. CheckYourTap analyzes 120+ contaminants in your local water supply and shows which ones exceed health guidelines — not just legal limits. Many contaminants are legal but still pose health risks, especially for babies, pregnant women, elderly, and pets.

What contaminants are in Connecticut tap water?

Connecticut tap water commonly contains disinfection byproducts (haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes), lead from aging pipes, PFAS (forever chemicals), nitrates, arsenic, and radionuclides like radium. The specific contaminants and levels vary by water system — enter your ZIP code to see your local results.

How does CheckYourTap differ from EWG or other water quality databases?

CheckYourTap is the only water quality report personalized for your household composition. Tell us who lives in your home — babies, children, pregnant women, elderly, dogs, or cats — and we calculate adjusted safe levels for each person. A contaminant safe for adults may exceed guidelines for infants by 8x or more.

Is CheckYourTap free?

Yes, CheckYourTap is completely free. Enter your Connecticut ZIP code and household members to get a personalized water quality report with health risk assessments for 120+ contaminants.

Does CheckYourTap cover well water in Connecticut?

Yes. CheckYourTap covers both city water (public water systems) and private well water in Connecticut. Well water reports use USGS groundwater data and include geology-based risk factors for arsenic, uranium, and radon specific to your area.

Inorganics

Nitrate-Nitrite in Connecticut Drinking Water

Nitrate-Nitrite has been detected in water systems serving 11,086 ZIP codes nationwide. Here is what you need to know about nitrate-nitrite in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.

What Is Nitrate-Nitrite?

Nitrate-nitrite is a combined measurement of two inorganic nitrogen compounds commonly found together in drinking water. They originate from fertilizer runoff, septic system leachate, sewage discharge, and natural erosion. The EPA maximum contaminant level for the combined total is 10 mg/L. Elevated levels pose the greatest risk to infants under six months by causing methemoglobinemia, a condition that impairs oxygen transport in the blood.

Is Nitrate-Nitrite in Your Water?

Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if nitrate-nitrite is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.

Check Your ZIP Code

Health Effects of Nitrate-Nitrite

Combined nitrogen compounds that cause methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) in infants. The combined measurement reflects total inorganic nitrogen in water.

Safety Guidelines

Health Guideline

10 mg/L

Source: EPA_MCL

Legal Limit (MCL)

10 mg/L

EPA Maximum Contaminant Level

Where Does Nitrate-Nitrite Come From?

Fertilizer runoff; septic system leaching; sewage discharge; erosion of natural deposits; agricultural operations.

How to Reduce Nitrate-Nitrite in Your Water

1Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which typically removes 85 to 92% of combined nitrate and nitrite from drinking water.
2Use an ion exchange system with a nitrate-selective resin for whole-house treatment; standard water softener resins are less effective than nitrate-specific resins.
3Do not rely on activated carbon filters or boiling, as neither method reduces nitrate or nitrite concentrations; boiling actually increases concentration by evaporating water.
4Test well water quarterly if located near agricultural operations, as nitrate-nitrite levels fluctuate seasonally with fertilizer application and rainfall patterns.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Nitrate-Nitrite?

The safe level of nitrate-nitrite varies significantly depending on who is drinking the water. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for each member of your household:

Infants (under 1 year)

Toddlers (1-3 years)

Children (4-11 years)

Pregnant women

Elderly (65+)

Adults

Dogs

Cats

A contaminant level that is safe for an adult may exceed guidelines for an infant by 4-8x or more. Check your ZIP code to see personalized results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nitrate-Nitrite in my tap water?▾

Nitrate-Nitrite has been detected in water systems across 11,086 ZIP codes. Whether it's in your specific water depends on your local water system. Enter your CT ZIP code at CheckYourTap.com for a free, instant report.

What level of Nitrate-Nitrite is safe?▾

The safe level depends on who is drinking the water. The health guideline is 10 mg/L, but infants, pregnant women, and pets may need much lower levels. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for 11 different household member types.

How do I remove Nitrate-Nitrite from my water?▾

Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which typically removes 85 to 92% of combined nitrate and nitrite from drinking water. Use an ion exchange system with a nitrate-selective resin for whole-house treatment; standard water softener resins are less effective than nitrate-specific resins. For a personalized consultation, contact Valiant Energy Solutions at (475) 557-5107.

Related Contaminants

Nitrate Copper Lead Barium Fluoride

Check Water Quality by ZIP Code

Hartford 06103 New Haven 06510 Bridgeport 06604 Stamford 06901 Waterbury 06702 Norwalk 06850 Danbury 06810 Manchester 06040 View all cities →

View all contaminants in Connecticut water

About This Report

This water quality report is compiled from public records filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state health departments, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Contaminant levels are evaluated against EPA federal standards and health-based guidelines from leading environmental and public health organizations. CheckYourTap is a service of Valiant Energy Solutions, a Connecticut water quality and energy services company established in 1930.

EPA SDWISUSGS NWISEWG Tap Water DatabaseCA OEHHA Public Health GoalsWHO Drinking Water Guidelines

Last updated March 2026