Nitrate
New Britain Water Department
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 | 0.132 ppm | 5 | 2 | ND - 0.550 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.0800 ppm | 5 | 1 | ND - 0.400 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.280 ppm | 5 | 3 | ND - 1.000 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.260 ppm | 5 | 4 | ND - 0.600 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.0880 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.0880 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.0956 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.0380 ppm - 0.222 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-05-23 | E405L07-2IOC1 | ND |
| 2014-05-23 | E405L07-3IOC1 | 0.110 ppm |
| 2014-05-23 | E405L07-4IOC1 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2014-05-23 | E405L07-1IOC1 | ND |
| 2014-07-10 | 10079-02941NOX | ND |
| 2015-05-21 | 7215-03328NOX | ND |
| 2015-05-21 | 7217-03330NOX | ND |
| 2015-05-21 | 7216-03329NOX | ND |
| 2015-05-21 | 7218-03331NOX | 0.400 ppm |
| 2015-06-22 | 9143-03275NOX | ND |
| 2016-05-19 | 7547-03717NOX | 1.000 ppm |
| 2016-05-19 | 7545-03715NOX | ND |
| 2016-05-19 | 7546-03716NOX | ND |
| 2016-05-19 | 7544-03714NOX | 0.200 ppm |
| 2016-07-13 | 10611-03602NOX | 0.200 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 5851-03846NOX | 0.400 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 5853-03848NOX | ND |
| 2017-05-16 | 5852-03847NOX | 0.200 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 5854-03849NOX | 0.600 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 8044-03895NOX | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | NOX 200497534 | 0.0880 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | NOX 200529606 | 0.0460 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | NOX 200529609 | 0.119 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | NOX 200529607 | 0.0530 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | NOX 200529608 | 0.222 ppm |
| 2019-06-12 | NOX 200535995 | 0.0380 ppm |