Nitrate
City of Reno
Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.107 ppm | 7 | 7 | 0.0445 ppm - 0.281 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.140 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.0235 ppm - 0.436 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.156 ppm | 8 | 7 | ND - 0.572 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.139 ppm | 8 | 7 | ND - 0.449 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.173 ppm | 8 | 7 | ND - 0.650 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.178 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.0369 ppm - 0.366 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.14 ppm
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppm
The legal limit for nitrate, established in 1962, was developed to protect infants from acute methemoglobinemia, a life-threatening disorder of oxygen transport in the body. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer and harm to the developing fetus.
ppm = parts per million
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-26 | Q1406364014 | 0.281 ppm |
| 2014-02-26 | Q1406364013 | 0.101 ppm |
| 2014-02-26 | Q1406364012 | 0.133 ppm |
| 2014-02-26 | Q1406364017 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2014-05-29 | Q1418403009 | 0.0445 ppm |
| 2014-05-29 | Q1418403008 | 0.0480 ppm |
| 2014-05-29 | Q1418403007 | 0.0610 ppm |
| 2015-03-02 | Q1507706011 | 0.436 ppm |
| 2015-03-02 | Q1507706012 | 0.0385 ppm |
| 2015-03-02 | Q1507706013 | 0.0245 ppm |
| 2015-03-02 | Q1507706016 | 0.168 ppm |
| 2015-03-02 | Q1507706017 | 0.152 ppm |
| 2015-05-04 | Q1516121014 | 0.184 ppm |
| 2015-12-14 | Q1549779002 | 0.0895 ppm |
| 2015-12-14 | Q1549779001 | 0.0235 ppm |
| 2016-02-29 | Q1608184004 | 0.286 ppm |
| 2016-02-29 | Q1608184003 | 0.0510 ppm |
| 2016-02-29 | Q1608184002 | 0.222 ppm |
| 2016-02-29 | Q1608184001 | 0.572 ppm |
| 2016-05-31 | Q1621278014 | 0.0515 ppm |
| 2016-05-31 | Q1621278013 | 0.0520 ppm |
| 2016-05-31 | Q1621278012 | ND |
| 2016-05-31 | Q1621278011 | 0.0150 ppm |
| 2017-02-13 | Q1706086022 | 0.128 ppm |
| 2017-02-13 | Q1706086021 | 0.266 ppm |
| 2017-02-13 | Q1706086009 | 0.449 ppm |
| 2017-08-28 | Q1738760016 | 0.138 ppm |
| 2017-08-28 | Q1738760005 | 0.0515 ppm |
| 2017-08-28 | Q1738760028 | 0.0225 ppm |
| 2017-08-28 | Q1738760004 | ND |
| 2017-11-07 | Q1756952004 | 0.0602 ppm |
| 2018-04-23 | Q1816387025 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-04-23 | Q1816387005 | 0.211 ppm |
| 2018-04-23 | Q1816387021 | 0.226 ppm |
| 2018-04-23 | Q1816387006 | 0.0640 ppm |
| 2018-04-23 | Q1816387026 | ND |
| 2018-04-23 | Q1816387009 | 0.0610 ppm |
| 2018-04-23 | Q1816387027 | 0.106 ppm |
| 2018-07-30 | Q1829993004 | 0.0668 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | Q1915135027 | 0.141 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | Q1915135026 | 0.337 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | Q1915135001 | 0.0369 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | Q1915135023 | 0.0718 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | Q1915135022 | 0.0371 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | Q1915135021 | 0.366 ppm |
| 2019-04-16 | Q1915135020 | 0.331 ppm |
| 2019-08-22 | Q1958475001 | 0.105 ppm |