Nitrate
Acton Water Supply District
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 1.61 ppm | 11 | 10 | ND - 4.80 ppm |
| 2015 | 1.47 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.320 ppm - 4.90 ppm |
| 2016 | 1.26 ppm | 12 | 11 | ND - 5.20 ppm |
| 2017 | 1.01 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.180 ppm - 4.20 ppm |
| 2018 | 1.26 ppm | 12 | 11 | ND - 6.30 ppm |
| 2019 | 1.16 ppm | 12 | 10 | ND - 6.30 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 | Result |
|---|---|
| 2014-05-19 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2014-05-19 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2014-05-19 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2014-05-19 | 1.80 ppm |
| 2014-05-19 | 4.40 ppm |
| 2014-05-19 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2014-05-19 | ND |
| 2014-05-19 | 3.50 ppm |
| 2014-06-02 | 1.20 ppm |
| 2014-06-02 | 4.80 ppm |
| 2014-06-27 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2015-05-27 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2015-06-11 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2015-06-11 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2015-06-11 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2015-06-11 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2015-06-11 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2015-06-26 | 1.60 ppm |
| 2015-06-26 | 1.70 ppm |
| 2015-06-26 | 2.30 ppm |
| 2015-06-26 | 4.90 ppm |
| 2015-06-26 | 2.50 ppm |
| 2015-08-17 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2015-08-17 | 2.60 ppm |
| 2016-05-02 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2016-05-18 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2016-05-18 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2016-05-18 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2016-05-18 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 1.40 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 2.70 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 5.20 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 2.00 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2016-06-28 | ND |
| 2017-05-03 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2017-05-03 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2017-05-03 | 1.20 ppm |
| 2017-05-03 | 4.20 ppm |
| 2017-05-03 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2017-05-03 | 1.60 ppm |
| 2017-06-19 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-06-19 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2017-06-19 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2017-06-27 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-06-27 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-07-27 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2018-04-26 | ND |
| 2018-06-11 | 1.80 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 1.60 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 1.60 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 1.90 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 6.30 ppm |
| 2018-06-21 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2018-06-21 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2018-06-21 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2018-06-21 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2018-06-22 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 1.30 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 1.40 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 1.50 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 6.30 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 1.70 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2019-06-18 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2019-06-28 | ND |
| 2019-07-24 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2019-07-25 | ND |