Nitrate
Milford Water Company
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 | 0.307 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0700 ppm - 0.800 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.270 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0400 ppm - 0.720 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.213 ppm | 6 | 5 | ND - 0.350 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.175 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.0600 ppm - 0.320 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.238 ppm | 5 | 4 | ND - 0.380 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.237 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.0480 ppm - 0.473 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014-05-28 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2014-05-28 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2014-05-28 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2014-05-28 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2014-05-28 | 0.120 ppm |
| 2014-06-11 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2015-06-09 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2015-06-09 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2015-06-09 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2015-06-16 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2015-12-18 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-05-19 | 0.1000 ppm |
| 2016-05-19 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2016-05-19 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2016-05-19 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2016-05-25 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2016-05-26 | ND |
| 2017-05-10 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2017-05-10 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-05-24 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2017-05-24 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2018-05-15 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2018-05-15 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2018-05-15 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2018-06-06 | ND |
| 2018-06-28 | 0.302 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 0.473 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 0.307 ppm |
| 2019-07-25 | 0.0480 ppm |
| 2019-10-09 | 0.121 ppm |