Nitrate
Municipality of Anchorage
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 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2016 | 0.514 ppm | 11 | 9 | ND - 1.57 ppm |
2017 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | 0.559 ppm | 12 | 11 | ND - 1.69 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 |
---|---|---|
2016-07-13 | IN*A1607204-02L | 0.479 ppm |
2016-07-13 | IN*A1607204-04L | 0.729 ppm |
2016-07-13 | IN*A1607204-01L | 0.199 ppm |
2016-07-18 | IN*A1607296-01L | 0.434 ppm |
2016-07-18 | IN*A1607296-02L | 0.845 ppm |
2016-07-18 | IN*A1607296-04L | 1.57 ppm |
2016-07-19 | IN*A1607319-01N | 0.120 ppm |
2016-08-02 | IN*A1608035-03A | ND |
2016-08-02 | IN*A1608037-01N | 0.644 ppm |
2016-08-29 | IN*A1608403-01N | 0.639 ppm |
2016-08-29 | IN*A1608403-03N | ND |
2019-07-10 | ARS3-19-02051-00 | 0.106 ppm |
2019-07-10 | ARS3-19-02049-00 | 0.168 ppm |
2019-08-12 | ARS3-19-02458-00 | 0.512 ppm |
2019-08-12 | ARS3-19-02456-00 | 1.69 ppm |
2019-08-12 | ARS3-19-02457-00 | 0.590 ppm |
2019-08-13 | ARS3-19-02475-00 | 0.548 ppm |
2019-08-13 | ARS3-19-02476-00 | 0.724 ppm |
2019-08-14 | ARS3-19-02496-00 | 0.856 ppm |
2019-08-14 | ARS3-19-02495-00 | 0.458 ppm |
2019-08-21 | ARS3-19-02596-00 | ND |
2019-08-21 | ARS3-19-02595-00 | 0.800 ppm |
2019-10-02 | ARS3-19-03164-00 | 0.260 ppm |