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.
2015-2017:
49
states detected
27,437
utilities detected
234 million
people served
49
states over health guideline
21,435
utilities over health guideline
191 million
people served over health guideline
20
states over legal limit
114
utilities over legal limit
87,401
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
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
States reporting nitrate in drinking water
UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
California | 1,819 | 30,152,537 | 2,019 | 34,891,844 | |||
Texas | 2,147 | 22,054,790 | 4,241 | 26,903,943 | |||
New York | 1,455 | 17,883,242 | 1,843 | 20,313,144 | |||
Florida | 695 | 6,461,178 | 1,233 | 18,107,372 | |||
Illinois | 911 | 10,797,239 | 1,137 | 9,863,400 | |||
Pennsylvania | 1,275 | 9,054,699 | 1,427 | 9,389,402 | |||
Ohio | 626 | 8,383,533 | 741 | 9,081,671 | |||
Tennessee | 345 | 5,492,580 | 369 | 6,665,784 | |||
Massachusetts | 382 | 5,217,020 | 480 | 6,391,195 | |||
New Jersey | 296 | 5,019,585 | 354 | 6,366,704 | |||
Arizona | 677 | 6,304,012 | 694 | 6,351,979 | |||
Washington | 1,386 | 4,028,811 | 1,585 | 5,412,754 | |||
Colorado | 480 | 1,516,697 | 741 | 4,969,130 | |||
Alabama | 329 | 3,914,294 | 391 | 4,968,355 | |||
Maryland | 198 | 4,455,390 | 221 | 4,835,818 | |||
Michigan | 159 | 4,428,527 | 157 | 4,522,418 | |||
Indiana | 436 | 4,057,082 | 510 | 4,505,158 | |||
Kentucky | 323 | 4,203,197 | 348 | 4,290,907 | |||
Wisconsin | 536 | 2,862,245 | 827 | 3,593,289 | |||
South Carolina | 358 | 2,143,374 | 439 | 3,513,436 | |||
Oregon | 502 | 1,965,467 | 646 | 3,362,610 | |||
Minnesota | 396 | 2,422,626 | 519 | 3,205,019 | |||
Utah | 407 | 2,885,716 | 432 | 3,053,272 | |||
Missouri | 77 | 2,775,731 | 82 | 2,804,328 | |||
Kansas | 766 | 2,714,997 | 803 | 2,775,496 | |||
Connecticut | 362 | 1,938,866 | 469 | 2,697,787 | |||
Virginia | 71 | 2,235,339 | 81 | 2,686,892 | |||
Nevada | 148 | 2,573,673 | 168 | 2,579,740 | |||
Iowa | 521 | 2,016,146 | 618 | 2,187,113 | |||
North Carolina | 748 | 830,763 | 809 | 1,756,282 | |||
West Virginia | 333 | 1,290,655 | 377 | 1,482,624 | |||
Hawaii | 84 | 1,444,046 | 93 | 1,458,724 | |||
Idaho | 510 | 1,091,590 | 548 | 1,127,461 | |||
Arkansas | 121 | 422,731 | 135 | 1,061,228 | |||
Oklahoma | 101 | 1,037,797 | 98 | 1,035,872 | |||
Mississippi | 148 | 477,280 | 219 | 944,703 | |||
Delaware | 105 | 856,985 | 120 | 901,441 | |||
District Of Columbia | 4 | 664,572 | 3 | 648,882 | |||
New Hampshire | 232 | 434,243 | 281 | 514,820 | |||
South Dakota | 234 | 458,536 | 251 | 510,425 | |||
Rhode Island | 64 | 485,325 | 73 | 509,840 | |||
Maine | 171 | 165,002 | 240 | 431,350 | |||
Georgia | 17 | 341,186 | 31 | 369,085 | |||
Alaska | 100 | 336,081 | 102 | 336,838 | |||
Vermont | 211 | 262,905 | 275 | 316,373 | |||
Louisiana | 5 | 221,316 | 10 | 229,719 | |||
Wyoming | 23 | 108,710 | 20 | 107,042 | |||
North Dakota | 32 | 45,812 | 37 | 62,993 | |||
Montana | 107 | 36,351 | 138 | 49,662 | |||
New Mexico | 2 | 20,832 | 2 | 20,832 |
Filtering technologies that reduce nitrate

Reverse Osmosis

Ion Exchange
Utilities with the highest amounts of nitrate, 2015-2017
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
River Rd. Ws #25 | Gonzales, CA | 2 of 2 | 41.2 ppm | 65 |
Eola Water Supply Corporation | Eola, TX | 12 of 12 | 35.7 ppm | 165 |
Apple Ave. Ws #03 | Greenfield, CA | 14 of 14 | 34.4 ppm | 60 |
Rodriguez Labor Camp | Delano, CA | 12 of 12 | 25.3 ppm | 110 |
Diomede Joint Utilities | Little Diomede, AK | 1 of 1 | 25.0 ppm | 184 |
El Camino Water Company Inc. | Spreckels, CA | 12 of 12 | 23.4 ppm | 90 |
Sierra Mutual Water Company | Porterville, CA | 18 of 18 | 21.7 ppm | 39 |
Pretty Prairie, City of | Pretty Prairie, KS | 13 of 13 | 21.1 ppm | 681 |
Iverson & Jacks Apartments Ws | Salinas, CA | 3 of 3 | 19.5 ppm | 150 |
San Miguel Ws #01 | Royal Oaks, CA | 12 of 12 | 19.3 ppm | 100 |
Beverly Grand Mutual Water | Arroyo Grande, CA | 12 of 12 | 18.0 ppm | 108 |
Turkey Municipal Water System* | Turkey, TX | 12 of 12 | 17.3 ppm | 421 |
Buckingham Water System | Tonasket, WA | 2 of 2 | 17.1 ppm | 32 |
M & J Trailer Home Community | Sandy, UT | 2 of 2 | 16.7 ppm | 20 |
Lemon Cove Water Company | Lemon Cove, CA | 7 of 7 | 16.1 ppm | 200 |
Hamilton Estates | Westfield, IN | 1 of 1 | 16.1 ppm | 132 |
Greenwood Terrace Mobile Home Subdivision | Amarillo, TX | 12 of 12 | 16.1 ppm | 120 |
Klondike Independent School District | Lamesa, TX | 12 of 12 | 15.6 ppm | 264 |
Coxville Water Association #1 | Benton City, WA | 11 of 11 | 15.5 ppm | 52 |
Sol Y Mar | Pharr, TX | 10 of 10 | 15.3 ppm | 103 |
Son Shine Properties | Edison, CA | 12 of 12 | 15.3 ppm | 438 |
Northside Water Supply Corporation | Vernon, TX | 12 of 12 | 15.2 ppm | 225 |
Papago Butte Domestic Water Improvement District | Maricopa, AZ | 14 of 14 | 15.2 ppm | 500 |
South Midland County Water Systems | Kingsland, TX | 4 of 4 | 15.2 ppm | 165 |
Rra Hinds Wildcat Water System | Wichita Falls, TX | 13 of 13 | 15.0 ppm | 178 |
Lake Morena Views Mw Company | Campo, CA | 33 of 33 | 15.0 ppm | 360 |
Whitharral Water Supply Corporation | Whitharral, TX | 12 of 12 | 15.0 ppm | 200 |
La Verne WD | La Verne, CA | 225 of 226 | 14.9 ppm | 32,230 |
Rra Guthrie Dumont Water System | Wichita Falls, TX | 12 of 12 | 14.5 ppm | 402 |
Sherwood Estates Manufactured Townhome C | Fair Oaks Ranch, TX | 13 of 13 | 14.4 ppm | 102 |
Greenfield Public Works Authority | Greenfield, OK | 2 of 2 | 14.3 ppm | 123 |
Geary* | Geary, OK | 2 of 2 | 14.3 ppm | 1,258 |
San Joaquin Estates Mutual Water Company | Bakersfield, CA | 12 of 12 | 14.3 ppm | 165 |
Soults Mutual Water Company | Tulare, CA | 9 of 9 | 14.2 ppm | 120 |
Delta Water Association | Lynden, WA | 24 of 24 | 14.2 ppm | 420 |
Grassland Water Supply Corporation | Tahoka, TX | 12 of 12 | 14.2 ppm | 55 |
City of Dodson | Dodson, TX | 11 of 12 | 14.1 ppm | 109 |
Sierra Vista Association | Delano, CA | 12 of 12 | 13.9 ppm | 44 |
San Vicente Mutual Water Company | Soledad, CA | 26 of 26 | 13.9 ppm | 90 |
Franklin Water Systems 3 | Dallas, TX | 43 of 43 | 13.8 ppm | 92 |
Oak Lane Mobile Home Park | Stevens Point, WI | 24 of 24 | 13.8 ppm | 40 |
Wilson Road Water Community | Bakersfield, CA | 16 of 16 | 13.6 ppm | 72 |
Lake Success Mobile Lodge | Porterville, CA | 10 of 10 | 13.6 ppm | 40 |
Adrian | Adrian, MN | 36 of 36 | 13.4 ppm | 1,211 |
Hills | Hills, MN | 49 of 49 | 13.4 ppm | 686 |
Steen | Steen, MN | 49 of 49 | 13.4 ppm | 180 |
Rock County Rural Water System* | Luverne, MN | 49 of 49 | 13.4 ppm | 2,256 |
Magnolia | Magnolia, MN | 49 of 49 | 13.4 ppm | 222 |
Thunderbird Farms Domestic Water Improvement District | Maricopa, AZ | 16 of 17 | 13.3 ppm | 1,600 |
City of Quitaque | Quitaque, TX | 12 of 12 | 13.1 ppm | 423 |
* 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 | 225 of 226 | 14.9 ppm | 32,230 |
Chelan County PUD 1 | Wenatchee, WA | 1 of 1 | 9.17 ppm | 13,170 |
Enid* | Enid, OK | 2 of 2 | 9.06 ppm | 49,347 |
City of Wasco | Wasco, CA | 170 of 170 | 7.72 ppm | 21,170 |
Plover Waterworks | Plover, WI | 36 of 36 | 7.70 ppm | 12,420 |
City of Shafter | Shafter, CA | 50 of 50 | 7.57 ppm | 16,928 |
City of Atwater | Atwater, CA | 117 of 117 | 7.56 ppm | 29,050 |
San Fernando Water Department | San Fernando, CA | 3 of 3 | 7.53 ppm | 23,839 |
City of Vernon* | Vernon, TX | 13 of 13 | 7.37 ppm | 11,686 |
Cedar Falls Municipal Water Utilities | Cedar Falls, IA | 64 of 73 | 7.15 ppm | 39,260 |
Goodyear Water Department* | Goodyear, AZ | 60 of 60 | 7.09 ppm | 50,001 |
Pella Water Works Department | Pella, IA | 4 of 4 | 7.03 ppm | 10,352 |
Johnson Utilities | Phoenix, AZ | 40 of 40 | 6.85 ppm | 62,158 |
City of Burkburnett | Burkburnett, TX | 19 of 19 | 6.73 ppm | 10,811 |
Riverside Highland Water Company | Grand Terrace, CA | 39 of 39 | 6.58 ppm | 14,500 |
Florence Water Company | Florence, AZ | 12 of 12 | 6.58 ppm | 14,880 |
City of Dinuba | Dinuba, CA | 192 of 192 | 6.55 ppm | 23,666 |
Ottumwa Water Works* | Ottumwa, IA | 23 of 23 | 6.51 ppm | 25,023 |
City of Chino Hills* | Chino Hills, CA | 131 of 131 | 6.39 ppm | 75,655 |
Liberty Water Lpsco* | Avondale, AZ | 53 of 53 | 6.29 ppm | 45,298 |
Newhall CWD-Newhall | Santa Clarita, CA | 16 of 16 | 6.28 ppm | 12,487 |
East Valley Water District | Highland, CA | 558 of 561 | 6.25 ppm | 87,000 |
Saint Peter | St. Peter, MN | 48 of 48 | 6.24 ppm | 11,758 |
Hastings | Hastings, MN | 103 of 103 | 6.23 ppm | 22,335 |
California Water Service - Livermore | Livermore, CA | 780 of 782 | 6.20 ppm | 56,700 |
University Water System | Iowa City, IA | 34 of 36 | 6.20 ppm | 26,684 |
Boone Water Works* | Boone, IA | 36 of 36 | 6.20 ppm | 12,909 |
Arizona Water Company - Pinal Valley* | Phoenix, AZ | 49 of 49 | 6.18 ppm | 88,019 |
Westbury WD | Westbury, NY | 227 of 231 | 6.16 ppm | 20,500 |
City of Ceres | Ceres, CA | 147 of 148 | 6.15 ppm | 42,666 |
Security Waster District | Colorado Springs, CO | 66 of 66 | 6.09 ppm | 19,000 |
Los Angeles CWWD 40, R24, 27,33-Pearblsm* | Alhambra, CA | 145 of 145 | 6.09 ppm | 10,557 |
City of Gilroy | Gilroy, CA | 131 of 131 | 6.04 ppm | 39,050 |
East Hempfield Water Authority | Landisville, PA | 72 of 72 | 6.01 ppm | 16,761 |
City of Los Banos | Los Banos, CA | 102 of 102 | 5.98 ppm | 37,168 |
City of Corona* | Corona, CA | 2200 of 2,474 | 5.92 ppm | 155,896 |
Loma Linda Power Plant | Loma Linda, CA | 15 of 15 | 5.92 ppm | 10,500 |
Waukee Water Supply | Waukee, IA | 106 of 106 | 5.92 ppm | 13,790 |
Urbandale Water Utility | Urbandale, IA | 106 of 106 | 5.92 ppm | 39,463 |
Johnston Municipal Water Supply | Johnston, IA | 106 of 106 | 5.92 ppm | 17,306 |
Warren Water District* | Indianola, IA | 106 of 106 | 5.92 ppm | 18,045 |
Clive Water Department | Clive, IA | 106 of 106 | 5.92 ppm | 15,447 |
Des Moines Water Works* | Des Moines, IA | 106 of 106 | 5.92 ppm | 233,020 |
City of McFarland | Mcfarland, CA | 10 of 10 | 5.91 ppm | 12,333 |
Waterloo Water Works* | Waterloo, IA | 76 of 78 | 5.91 ppm | 70,070 |
California Water Service (CWS) - Los Altos Suburban | San Jose, CA | 211 of 211 | 5.87 ppm | 68,404 |
Janesville Water Utility | Janesville, WI | 42 of 42 | 5.80 ppm | 62,720 |
Rehoboth Beach Water Department* | Rehoboth Beach, DE | 133 of 133 | 5.78 ppm | 30,000 |
City of Manteca | Manteca, CA | 712 of 712 | 5.77 ppm | 66,451 |
California Water Service (CWS) - Salinas | San Jose, CA | 1188 of 1,190 | 5.73 ppm | 106,858 |
* 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.