Nitrate

Epcor Water - Tubac

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

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	0.730 ppm	2	2	0.690 ppm - 0.770 ppm
2015	0.910 ppm	2	2	0.720 ppm - 1.10 ppm
2016	0.655 ppm	2	2	0.490 ppm - 0.820 ppm
2017	0.740 ppm	2	2	0.580 ppm - 0.900 ppm
2018	0.675 ppm	2	2	0.630 ppm - 0.720 ppm
2019	0.635 ppm	2	2	0.590 ppm - 0.680 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
2014-07-21	201407210222I	0.690 ppm
2014-07-21	201407210223I	0.770 ppm
2015-11-12	201511120198I	0.720 ppm
2015-11-12	201511120199I	1.10 ppm
2016-08-17	201608170277I	0.490 ppm
2016-08-17	201608170278I	0.820 ppm
2017-10-05	201710060034I	0.580 ppm
2017-10-05	201710060035I	0.900 ppm
2018-12-14	201812180033I	0.630 ppm
2018-12-14	201812180034I	0.720 ppm
2019-11-13	201911140285I	0.590 ppm
2019-11-13	201911140286I	0.680 ppm