Nitrate
Chautauqua Utility 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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.250 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.250 ppm |
2015 | 0.142 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.142 ppm |
2016 | 0.107 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.107 ppm |
2017 | 0.216 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.216 ppm |
2018 | 0.217 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.217 ppm |
2019 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
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 |
---|---|---|
2014-03-06 | NO3 CUD 2014 | 0.250 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 2015 NO3 CUD | 0.142 ppm |
2016-12-07 | NO3 CUD 2016 | 0.107 ppm |
2017-02-15 | NO3 CUD 2017 | 0.216 ppm |
2018-02-07 | R1801125-001 NIT | 0.217 ppm |
2019-05-01 | NO3 19 CUD | ND |