Nitrate
City of Sherman
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 | 0.0487 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0320 ppm - 0.0885 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.0613 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0330 ppm - 0.132 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.0623 ppm | 10 | 8 | ND - 0.260 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.0873 ppm | 10 | 8 | ND - 0.264 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.0884 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0467 ppm - 0.384 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.0824 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.0378 ppm - 0.302 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-04-22 | Q1412762005 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2014-04-22 | Q1412762004 | 0.0445 ppm |
| 2014-06-16 | Q1421403006 | 0.0420 ppm |
| 2014-08-20 | Q1438015008 | 0.0885 ppm |
| 2014-08-20 | Q1438015007 | 0.0525 ppm |
| 2014-08-20 | Q1438015006 | 0.0355 ppm |
| 2014-08-20 | Q1438015005 | 0.0320 ppm |
| 2014-11-13 | Q1455961018 | 0.0385 ppm |
| 2014-11-13 | Q1455961016 | 0.0440 ppm |
| 2014-11-13 | Q1455961017 | 0.0390 ppm |
| 2015-03-17 | Q1509888005 | 0.106 ppm |
| 2015-03-17 | Q1509888003 | 0.0405 ppm |
| 2015-04-23 | Q1515169005 | 0.132 ppm |
| 2015-04-23 | Q1515169021 | 0.0330 ppm |
| 2015-04-23 | Q1515169001 | 0.0380 ppm |
| 2015-04-23 | Q1515169002 | 0.0570 ppm |
| 2015-04-23 | Q1515169003 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2015-04-23 | Q1515169004 | 0.0495 ppm |
| 2015-04-23 | Q1515169006 | 0.0575 ppm |
| 2015-04-23 | Q1515169007 | 0.0495 ppm |
| 2016-01-20 | Q1602480002 | 0.0545 ppm |
| 2016-01-20 | Q1602480001 | 0.0405 ppm |
| 2016-01-20 | Q1602479020 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2016-04-11 | Q1614214008 | 0.0620 ppm |
| 2016-04-11 | Q1614214007 | 0.0365 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | Q1648503007 | 0.0530 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | Q1648503021 | ND |
| 2016-11-08 | Q1648503020 | 0.0640 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | Q1648503009 | 0.0520 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | Q1648503008 | ND |
| 2017-01-12 | Q1701556005 | 0.264 ppm |
| 2017-01-12 | Q1701556013 | 0.0380 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | Q1728660018 | ND |
| 2017-07-11 | Q1728660006 | ND |
| 2017-10-10 | Q1751594037 | 0.116 ppm |
| 2017-10-10 | Q1751594036 | 0.0570 ppm |
| 2017-10-10 | Q1751594035 | 0.218 ppm |
| 2017-10-10 | Q1751594039 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2017-10-10 | Q1751594034 | 0.0570 ppm |
| 2017-11-14 | Q1758437004 | 0.0625 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801240022 | 0.0635 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801240020 | 0.0515 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801240021 | 0.0515 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801240023 | 0.0675 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801240024 | 0.0635 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801240025 | 0.0530 ppm |
| 2018-01-10 | Q1801240026 | 0.0540 ppm |
| 2018-07-05 | Q1826605005 | 0.384 ppm |
| 2018-08-20 | Q1833198006 | 0.0467 ppm |
| 2018-11-29 | Q1848810007 | 0.0485 ppm |
| 2019-02-12 | Q1906434022 | 0.0423 ppm |
| 2019-02-12 | Q1906434021 | 0.0378 ppm |
| 2019-02-12 | Q1906434001 | 0.0476 ppm |
| 2019-02-12 | Q1906434015 | 0.302 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | Q1922272020 | 0.0542 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | Q1922272025 | 0.0831 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | Q1922272024 | 0.0592 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | Q1922272023 | 0.0681 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | Q1922272022 | 0.0536 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | Q1922272021 | 0.0758 ppm |