Nitrate
University of Connecticut - Main Campus
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 | 0.477 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.110 ppm - 0.720 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.665 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.640 ppm - 0.690 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.415 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.110 ppm - 0.720 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.405 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.0800 ppm - 0.730 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.492 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.0850 ppm - 0.899 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.471 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.0810 ppm - 0.861 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-04-24 | BG36616NOX | 0.720 ppm |
| 2014-04-24 | BG36617NOX | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-06-27 | BG66061NOX | 0.110 ppm |
| 2015-01-22 | BH66098NOX | 0.690 ppm |
| 2015-01-22 | BH66097NOX | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-06-14 | BN54228NOX | 0.110 ppm |
| 2016-06-14 | BN54227NOX | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-12-11 | BZ54499NOX | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2017-12-11 | BZ54498NOX | 0.730 ppm |
| 2018-12-12 | NOX 200515892 | 0.0850 ppm |
| 2018-12-12 | NOX 200515895 | 0.899 ppm |
| 2019-11-19 | NOX 200557259 | 0.0810 ppm |
| 2019-11-19 | NOX 200557253 | 0.861 ppm |