Nitrate
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2015:
49
states detected
23,270
utilities detected
216 million
people served
36
states over health guideline
1,460
utilities over health guideline
5.9 million
people served over health guideline
16
states over legal limit
103
utilities over legal limit
64,624
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for nitrate
Cancer
Harm to fetal growth and child development
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 5 ppm
The health guideline of 5 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG based on studies by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and other independent researchers. This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
ppm = parts per million.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppm
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppm = parts per million.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)10 ppm
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
ppm = parts per million.
States reporting nitrate in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| California | 308 | 3,285,547 | 1,754 | 32,405,560 | |||
| Texas | 114 | 83,949 | 3,980 | 25,737,270 | |||
| New York | 38 | 91,626 | 1,437 | 18,706,234 | |||
| Florida | 17 | 11,307 | 1,013 | 16,352,343 | |||
| Illinois | 86 | 184,685 | 999 | 9,757,539 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 146 | 242,492 | 1,264 | 9,000,315 | |||
| Massachusetts | 6 | 9,237 | 453 | 8,842,365 | |||
| Ohio | 15 | 17,858 | 654 | 8,831,973 | |||
| Arizona | 85 | 403,910 | 673 | 6,120,364 | |||
| Tennessee | 3 | 61,222 | 352 | 6,104,414 | |||
| Washington | 95 | 52,226 | 1,413 | 5,219,874 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 403 | 5,062,637 | |||
| Colorado | 37 | 74,381 | 655 | 4,674,190 | |||
| Maryland | 32 | 97,225 | 188 | 4,666,567 | |||
| New Jersey | 9 | 1,905 | 189 | 4,341,835 | |||
| Kentucky | 2 | 7,974 | 339 | 4,321,845 | |||
| Indiana | 20 | 23,716 | 481 | 4,280,229 | |||
| Wisconsin | 28 | 158,100 | 456 | 3,320,922 | |||
| South Carolina | 2 | 1,468 | 415 | 3,156,581 | |||
| Minnesota | 23 | 75,422 | 456 | 3,132,441 | |||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | 83 | 2,981,999 | |||
| Utah | 6 | 10,905 | 374 | 2,871,115 | |||
| Oregon | 20 | 17,104 | 524 | 2,845,730 | |||
| Kansas | 143 | 118,541 | 763 | 2,696,205 | |||
| Connecticut | 11 | 2,610 | 406 | 2,672,917 | |||
| Nevada | 7 | 13,404 | 150 | 2,566,264 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 51 | 2,554,635 | |||
| Iowa | 71 | 687,827 | 478 | 1,782,765 | |||
| Hawaii | 1 | 43 | 91 | 1,459,157 | |||
| West Virginia | 6 | 20,375 | 320 | 1,310,997 | |||
| Idaho | 39 | 22,010 | 505 | 1,036,909 | |||
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 60 | 972,299 | |||
| North Carolina | 41 | 22,007 | 683 | 923,374 | |||
| Delaware | 36 | 82,549 | 106 | 874,146 | |||
| Mississippi | 0 | 0 | 158 | 706,633 | |||
| District Of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 644,822 | |||
| New Hampshire | 2 | 288 | 220 | 464,615 | |||
| Arkansas | 2 | 3,758 | 120 | 428,282 | |||
| Rhode Island | 2 | 3,957 | 53 | 420,960 | |||
| Maine | 4 | 1,787 | 197 | 360,936 | |||
| Vermont | 2 | 270 | 247 | 305,261 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 10 | 269,456 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 4 | 219,993 | |||
| Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 17 | 105,784 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 35,378 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 8 | 32,108 | |||
| Montana | 1 | 65 | 38 | 24,079 | |||
| North Dakota | 0 | 0 | 12 | 19,852 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13,000 | |||
| South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 11 | 10,072 | |||
Utilities with the highest amounts of nitrate, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eola Water Supply Corporation | Eola, TX | 2 of 2 | 29.4 ppm | 113 |
| Apple Ave. Ws #03 | Greenfield, CA | 1 of 1 | 27.8 ppm | 60 |
| Rodriguez Labor Camp | Delano, CA | 2 of 2 | 24.1 ppm | 110 |
| City of Weinert | Weinert, TX | 4 of 4 | 22.4 ppm | 208 |
| Papago Butte Domestic Water Improvement District | Maricopa, AZ | 1 of 1 | 21.0 ppm | 500 |
| Beverly Grand Mutual Water | Arroyo Grande, CA | 4 of 4 | 20.9 ppm | 108 |
| Sierra Mutual Water Company | Porterville, CA | 4 of 4 | 20.7 ppm | 39 |
| Pretty Prairie, City of | Pretty Prairie, KS | 5 of 5 | 20.6 ppm | 681 |
| San Vicente Mutual Water Company | Soledad, CA | 10 of 10 | 19.0 ppm | 90 |
| Iverson & Jacks Apartments Ws | Salinas, CA | 1 of 1 | 18.7 ppm | 150 |
| San Miguel Ws #01 | Royal Oaks, CA | 6 of 6 | 18.5 ppm | 100 |
| Lake Morena Views Mw Company | Campo, CA | 3 of 3 | 18.1 ppm | 360 |
| Wheeler Municipal Water System | Wheeler, TX | 4 of 4 | 17.7 ppm | 1,651 |
| Turkey Municipal Water System* | Turkey, TX | 4 of 4 | 17.3 ppm | 421 |
| Thunderbird Farms Domestic Water Improvement District | Maricopa, AZ | 6 of 6 | 17.0 ppm | 1,600 |
| El Camino Water Company Inc. | Spreckels, CA | 3 of 3 | 16.8 ppm | 90 |
| Arrow Creek Trailer Court | Worden, MT | 1 of 1 | 16.4 ppm | 65 |
| Hamilton Estates | Carmel, IN | 1 of 1 | 16.1 ppm | 90 |
| Sol Y Mar | Pharr, TX | 4 of 4 | 15.8 ppm | 103 |
| La Verne WD | La Verne, CA | 69 of 69 | 15.6 ppm | 32,230 |
| Franklin Water Systems 3 | Southlake, TX | 12 of 12 | 15.4 ppm | 92 |
| Peak Properties | Midland, TX | 4 of 4 | 15.1 ppm | 99 |
| Son Shine Properties | Edison, CA | 4 of 4 | 15.0 ppm | 438 |
| Soults Mutual Water Company | Tulare, CA | 4 of 4 | 14.8 ppm | 120 |
| Northside Water Supply Corporation | Vernon, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.7 ppm | 225 |
| Klondike Independent School District | Lamesa, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.6 ppm | 231 |
| San Joaquin Estates Mutual Water Company | Bakersfield, CA | 3 of 3 | 14.5 ppm | 165 |
| South Midland County Water Systems | Midland, TX | 2 of 2 | 14.5 ppm | 165 |
| Grassland Water Supply Corporation | Tahoka, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.4 ppm | 55 |
| Greenwood Terrace Mobile Home Subdivision | Las Cruces, TX | 4 of 4 | 14.4 ppm | 120 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Nitrate, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Verne WD | La Verne, CA | 69 of 69 | 15.6 ppm | 32,230 |
| Chelan County PUD 1 | Wenatchee, WA | 1 of 1 | 9.17 ppm | 13,170 |
| Ottumwa Water Works* | Ottumwa, IA | 4 of 4 | 8.20 ppm | 25,023 |
| Plover Waterworks | Plover, WI | 12 of 12 | 8.07 ppm | 12,420 |
| City of Wasco | Wasco, CA | 41 of 41 | 8.06 ppm | 21,170 |
| City of Shafter | Shafter, CA | 19 of 19 | 7.88 ppm | 16,928 |
| City of Atwater | Atwater, CA | 115 of 115 | 7.60 ppm | 29,050 |
| City of Vernon* | Vernon, TX | 4 of 4 | 7.52 ppm | 11,686 |
| San Fernando Water Department | San Fernando, CA | 1 of 1 | 7.20 ppm | 23,839 |
| Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities* | Cedar Falls, IA | 22 of 25 | 7.09 ppm | 39,260 |
| Des Moines Water Works* | Des Moines, IA | 35 of 35 | 7.09 ppm | 233,020 |
| Pella Water Works Department* | Pella, IA | 4 of 4 | 7.03 ppm | 10,352 |
| Goodyear Water Department* | Goodyear, AZ | 20 of 20 | 6.94 ppm | 34,000 |
| City of Dinuba | Dinuba, CA | 56 of 56 | 6.75 ppm | 23,666 |
| Aqua Illinois-Vermilion County* | Danville, IL | 4 of 4 | 6.68 ppm | 38,000 |
| Boone Water Works* | Boone, IA | 12 of 12 | 6.63 ppm | 12,909 |
| University Water System* | Iowa City, IA | 12 of 12 | 6.55 ppm | 26,684 |
| City of Burkburnett | Burkburnett, TX | 5 of 5 | 6.53 ppm | 10,927 |
| Janesville Water Utility | Janesville, WI | 14 of 14 | 6.49 ppm | 62,720 |
| City of Ceres | Ceres, CA | 46 of 47 | 6.39 ppm | 42,666 |
| City of Los Banos | Los Banos, CA | 40 of 40 | 6.39 ppm | 37,168 |
| Liberty Water Lpsco* | Avondale, AZ | 24 of 24 | 6.38 ppm | 45,298 |
| City of Chino Hills* | Chino Hills, CA | 64 of 64 | 6.33 ppm | 75,655 |
| City of Turlock* | Turlock, CA | 74 of 74 | 6.33 ppm | 64,215 |
| Waterloo Water Works* | Waterloo, IA | 32 of 32 | 6.33 ppm | 70,070 |
| City of Manteca | Manteca, CA | 203 of 203 | 6.33 ppm | 66,451 |
| Newhall CWD-Newhall | Santa Clarita, CA | 7 of 7 | 6.29 ppm | 12,487 |
| Johnson Utilities | Scottsdale, AZ | 9 of 9 | 6.29 ppm | 62,158 |
| Westbury WD | Westbury, NY | 46 of 47 | 6.28 ppm | 20,500 |
| Riverside Highland Water Company* | Grand Terrace, CA | 10 of 10 | 6.23 ppm | 14,500 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Nitrate, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.