Nitrate
City of Flagstaff
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 | 0.377 ppm | 9 | 8 | ND - 1.000 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.511 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.140 ppm - 1.40 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.460 ppm | 10 | 9 | ND - 1.40 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.519 ppm | 12 | 10 | ND - 1.90 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.508 ppm | 10 | 9 | ND - 1.50 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.526 ppm | 9 | 6 | ND - 1.60 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-04-07 | 201404120026I | 0.280 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | 201404120025I | 0.270 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | 201404120024I | 1.000 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | 201404120023I | 0.180 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | 201404120022I | 0.180 ppm |
| 2014-04-07 | 201404120021I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2014-05-02 | 201405060750I | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-05-29 | 201405300314I | 0.730 ppm |
| 2014-09-04 | 2014095050485I | ND |
| 2015-03-09 | 201503120031I | 0.180 ppm |
| 2015-03-09 | 201503120030I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2015-03-09 | 201503120029I | 1.000 ppm |
| 2015-03-10 | 201503120032I | 0.140 ppm |
| 2015-03-10 | 201503050252I | 0.180 ppm |
| 2015-04-14 | 201503050251I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2015-07-09 | 201507100072I | 0.570 ppm |
| 2015-07-28 | 201507210370I | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-07-30 | 201507310184I | 0.980 ppm |
| 2015-08-27 | 201508280194I | 1.40 ppm |
| 2015-09-10 | 201509120269I | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-02-17 | 201602180314I | 0.750 ppm |
| 2016-02-17 | 201602180313I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2016-07-11 | 201607120775I | 0.160 ppm |
| 2016-07-11 | 201607120774I | 0.130 ppm |
| 2016-07-11 | 201607120773I | 0.990 ppm |
| 2016-07-11 | 201607120772I | 1.40 ppm |
| 2016-07-11 | 201607120771I | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-07-25 | 201607260445I | 0.580 ppm |
| 2016-07-25 | 201607260412I | ND |
| 2016-08-17 | 201608180220I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 201703090160I | 1.10 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 201703090159I | 0.290 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 201703090158I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 201703090157I | 0.160 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 201703090156I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2017-05-15 | 2017051605951 | ND |
| 2017-05-15 | 2017051605941 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2017-07-05 | 201707061058I | ND |
| 2017-08-15 | 201708170127I | 1.90 ppm |
| 2017-08-28 | 201708290222I | 0.980 ppm |
| 2017-08-28 | 201708290221I | 0.140 ppm |
| 2017-09-11 | 201709120606I | 0.780 ppm |
| 2018-05-15 | 201805160793 I | 0.360 ppm |
| 2018-05-15 | 201805160792 I | 1.50 ppm |
| 2018-05-15 | 201805160791 I | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 201806120451 I | ND |
| 2018-06-13 | 201806140903I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 201806140902I | 0.980 ppm |
| 2018-08-27 | 201808281003I | 1.000 ppm |
| 2018-08-27 | 201808281002I | 0.170 ppm |
| 2018-08-27 | 201808281001I | 0.130 ppm |
| 2018-08-27 | 201808280602I | 0.160 ppm |
| 2019-04-29 | 201904300311I | 0.150 ppm |
| 2019-04-29 | 201904300310I | 0.380 ppm |
| 2019-06-18 | 201906190260I | ND |
| 2019-06-18 | 201906190259I | ND |
| 2019-07-22 | 201907230337I | ND |
| 2019-07-22 | 201907230199I | 0.960 ppm |
| 2019-09-25 | 201909260285I | 1.60 ppm |
| 2019-09-25 | 201909260284I | 0.640 ppm |
| 2019-10-23 | 201910240268I | 1.000 ppm |